1 


BRIEF    HISTORY 


THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY 


PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH, 


AT  PRINCETON,  NEW  JERSEY 


TOGETHER  WITH  ITS 


CONSTITUTION,   BYE-LAWS,  &c, 


PRINCETON  : 
PRINTED    BY    JOHN    BOGART- 

1838. 


BRIEF   HISTORY,   &c. 


The  importance  of  the  union  of  piety  and  learning  in  the 
holy  ministry,  is  one  of  those  radical  principles  of  ecclesiastical 
wisdom,  which  the  experience  of  ages  has  served  more  and 
more  to  confirm.  If  the  priests'  lips  were  of  old  to  keep 
hnowledge;  if  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  are  bound  to  feed  the 
people  with  knowledge  and  with  understanding;  then  nothing 
can  be  plainer  than  that  ignorance,  or  small  and  indigested 
knowledge  is,  next  to  the  want  of  piety,  one  of  the  most  serious 
defects  in  a  candidate  for  the  sacred  office.  It  is  equally  plain, 
that  if  this  great  concern  be  properly  directed,  especially  if  it 
be  directed  with  order  and  uniformity,  it  must  be  attended  to 
by  the  Church  herself.  That  which  is  left  to  individual  enter- 
prise and  caprice,  may  sometimes  be  well  managed,  but  will 
seldom  be  managed  in  any  two  cases  alike.  Besides,  unless 
the  Church  take  this  matter  into  her  own  hands,  she  cannot 
inspect  and  control  the  education  which  her  candidates  for  the 
holy  ministry  receive.  Her  most  precious  fountains  may  be 
poisoned  without  her  being  able  to  apply  an  effectual  remedy. 
No  Church,  therefore,  Which  neglects  the  proper  education  of 
her  ministers,  can  be  considered  as  faithful,  either  to  her  own 
most  vital  interests,  or  to  the  honour  of  her  divine  Head  and 
Lord. 

Impressed  with  these  solemn  convictions,  a  number  of  the 
ministers  and  other  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  long 
before  the  establishment  of  their  seminary,  deeply  lamented 
the  want  of  such  an  institution,  and  saw  with  much  pain  the 
extreme  disadvantages  under  which  their  candidates  for  the 
ministry  laboured,  in  pursuing  their  theological  studies.  They 
saw  young  men,  with  very  small  previous  acquirements  in 
literature  and  science,  after  devoting  only  twelve  or  eighteen 


months,  and  in  some  instances  much  less,  to  the  study  of  theo- 
logy; and  even  for  that  short  time,  almost  wholly  without 
suitable  helps,  taking  on  themselves  the  most  weighty  and 
responsible  of  all  offices. 

They  saw,  at  the  same  time,  the  "  Reformed  Dutch  Church," 
the  "  Associate  Reformed  Church,"  and  the  descendants  of  the 
venerable  Puritans  in  New  England,  all  going  before  them  in 
an  honourable  and  successful  career  of  exertion,  to  remove  these 
disadvantages,  and  to  establish  seminaries  for  the  instruction  of 
their  candidates  for  the  ministry:  and  they  perceived,  that, 
unless  the  Presbyterian  Church  should  imitate  their  example, 
while  other  denominations  rose  and  flourished,  and  became  the 
means  of  extensive  blessings  to  their  country,  she  must  inevi- 
tably decline,  and  fall  into  a  state  of  discouraging  weakness, 
inferiority,  and  comparative  uselessness. 

Accordingly,  after  long  waiting,  and  after  much  counsel  and 
prayer,  the  proposal  to  establish  a  theological  seminary  for  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  was  first  introduced  into  the  General  As- 
sembly, during  the  sessions  of  that  body  in  May,  A.  D.  1809. 
It  was  introduced  in  the  form  of  an  overture  or  proposal  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.  This  overture  was  so  far 
countenanced  by  the  Assembly  as  to  be  referred  to  a  select 
committee,  who,  after  due  deliberation  on  the  subject,  brought 
in  the  following  report,  which,  being  read,  was  adopted,  and 
became  the  act  of  the  Assembly,  in  the  following  words,  viz. 

"The  committee  appointed  on  the  subject  of  a  theological 
school,  overtured  from  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  report, 

"  That  three  modes  of  compassing  this  important  object  have 
presented  themselves  to  their  consideration. 

"  Theji7'st  is,  to  establish  one  great  school,  in  some  conve- 
nient place  near  the  centre  of  the  bounds  of  our  Church. 

"  The  second  is,  to  establish  two  such  schools,  in  such  places 
as  may  best  accommodate  the  northern  and  southern  division 
of  the  Church. 

"The  third  is,  to  establish  such  a  school  within  the  bounds 
oi  each  of  the  Synods.  In  this  case,  your  committee  suggest 
the  propriety  of  leaving  it  to  each  Synod  to  direct  the  mode  of 
forming  the  school,  and  the  place  where  it  shall  be  established. 

"  The  advantages  attending  i\\Q  first  of  the  proposed  modes, 
are,  that  it  would  be  furnished  with  larger  funds,  and  there- 


fore  with  a  97iore  extensive  lihray^y  and  a  greater  number  of 
jjrofessors.  The  system  of  education  pursued  in  it  would 
therefore  be  more  extensive,  and  more  perfect:  the  youth  edu- 
cated in  it  would  also  become  more  united  in  the  same  views, 
and  contract  an  early  and  lasting  friendship  for  each  other; 
circumstances  which  would  not  fail  of  promoting  harmony  and 
prosperity  in  the  Church.  The  disadvantages  attending  this 
mode  would  be,  principally,  those  derived  from  the  distance  of 
its  position  from  the  extremities  of  the  Presbyterian  bounds. 

"  The  advantages  attending  the  second  of  the  proposed 
modes  and  the  disadvantages,  will  readily  suggest  themselves, 
from  a  comparison  of  this  with  the  other  two. 

"  The  advantages  which  would  attend  the  third,  to  wit, 
the  establishment  of  theological  schools  by  the  respective  Sy- 
nods, would  be  the  following.  The  local  situation  of  the  re- 
spective schools  would  be  peculiarly  convenient  for  the  several 
parts  of  a  country  so  extensive,  as  that  for  the  benefit  of  which 
they  were  designed.  The  inhabitants  having  the  seminaries 
brought  near  to  them  would  feel  a  peculiar  interest  in  their 
prosperity,  and  may  be  rationally  expected  to  contribute  much 
more  liberally  than  to  any  single  school,  or  even  to  two.  The 
Synods,  also,  having  the  immediate  care  of  them,  and  directing, 
either  in  person  or  by  delegation,  all  their  concerns,  would  feel 
a  similar  interest,  and  would  probably  be  better  pleased  with  a 
system  formed  by  themselves,  and  therefore  peculiarly  suited 
to  the  wishes  and  interests  of  the  several  parts  of  the  Church 
immediately  under  their  direction.  Greater  efforts,  therefore, 
may  be  expected  from  ministers  and  people,  to  promote  the 
prosperity  of  these  schools,  than  of  any  other.  The  disadvan- 
tages of  this  mode  would  be,  the  inferiority  of  the  funds;  a 
smaller  num,her  ofprofessors;  a  srnaller  library,  and  a  more 
limited  system  of  education  in  each.  The  students,  also,  as 
now,  would  be  strangers  to  each  other. 

"  Should  the  last  of  these  modes  be  adopted,  your  committee 
are  of  the  opinion,  that  every  thing  pertaining  to  the  erection 
and  conduct  of  each  school,  should  be  left  to  the  direction  of 
the  respective  Synods.  If  either  of  the  first,  the  whole  should 
be  subject  to  the  control  of  the  General  Assembly. 

"Your  committee  also  suggest,  that,  in  the  former  of  these 
cases,  the  funds  for  each  school  should  be  raised  within  the 


6 

bounds  of  the  Synod  within  which  it  was  stationed.  In  the 
latter,  they  should  be  collected  from  the  whole  body  of  the 
Church. 

«  Your  committee,  therefore,  submit  the  following  resolu- 
tion, to  wit: 

"Resolved,  that  the  above  plans  be  submitted  to  all  the 
Presbyteries  within  the  bounds  of  the  General  Assembly,  for 
their  consideration;  and  that  they  be  careful  to  send  up  to  the 
next  Assembly,  at  their  sessions  in  May,  1810,  their  opinions 
on  the  subject." 

Agreeably  to  this  resolution,  the  three  alternate  plans  which 
it  contemplates,  were  sent  down  to  all  the  Presbyteries,  to  be 
considered  and  decided  upon  by  them. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  next  General  Assembly,  in  May,  1810, 
the  Presbyteries  were  called  upon  to  state  what  they  had  re- 
spectively done  with  respect  to  the  recommendation  of  the 
last  Assembly,  relative  to  the  establishment  of  a  theological 
school.  The  reports  from  the  several  Presbyteries  on  this 
subject,  having  been  read,  were  referred  to  a  select  committee 
to  consider  and  report  on  the  same.  This  committee  made  a 
report,  which,  being  read  and  amended,  was  adopted,  as  follows, 
viz. — 

"  The  committee,  after  maturely  deliberating  on  the  subject 
committed  to  them,  submit  to  the  Assembly  the  following 
results. 

"  I.  It  is  evident,  that  not  only  a  majority  of  the  Presbyteries 
which  have  reported  on  this  subject,  but  also  a  majority  of  all 
the  Presbyteries  under  the  care  of  this  Assembly,  have  ex- 
pressed a  decided  opinion  in  favour  of  the  establishment  of  a 
theological  school  or  schools  in  our  Church. 

"  II.  It  appears  to  the  committee,  that  although  according  to 
the  statement  already  reported  to  the  Assembly,  there  is  an 
equal  number  of  Presbyteries  in  favour  of  the  first  plan, 
which  contemplates  a  single  school  for  the  whole  Church;  and 
in  favour  of  the  third  plan,  which  contemplates  the  erection  of 
a  school  in  each  Synod;  yet,  as  several  of  the  objections  made 
to  the  first  plan,  are  founded  entirely  on  misconception,*   and 

*  Some  of  the  Presbyteries  objected  to  a  single  theological  seminary,  for  the 
whole  Church,  because  they  apprehended  that,  if  this  plan  were  adopted,  every 


will  be  completely  obviated  by  developing  the  details  of  that 
plan;  it  seems  fairly  to  follow  that  there  is  a  greater  amount  of 
Presbyterial  suffrage  in  favour  of  a  single  school,  than  of  any 
other  plan. 

"  III.  Under  these  circumstances,  the  committee  are  of  opin- 
ion, that,  as  much  light  has  been  obtained  from  the  reports  of 
Presbyteries  on  this  subject,  as  would  be  likely  to  result  from 
a  renewal  of  the  reference:  that  no  advantage  will  probably 
arise  from  further  delay  in  this  important  concern;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  much  serious  inconvenience  and  evil;  that  the  present 
General  Assembly  is  bound  to  attempt  to  carry  into  execution 
some  one  of  the  plans  proposed;  and  that  the  first  plan,  appear- 
ing to  have,  on  the  whole,  the  greatest  share  of  public  sentiment 
in  its  favour,  ought,  of  course,  to  be  adopted. 

"  IV.  Your  committee,  therefore,  recommend,  that  the  present 
General  Assembly  declare  its  approbation  and  adoption  of  this 
plan,  and  immediately  commence  a  course  of  measures  for  car- 
rying it  into  execution,  as  promptly  and  extensively  as  possible; 
and,  for  this  purpose,  they  recommend  to  the  Assembly  the 
adoption  of  the  following  resolutions,  viz. — 

"Resolved,  1.  That  the  state  of  our  churches,  the  loud  and 
affecting  calls  of  destitute  frontier  settlements,  and  the  laudable 
exertions  of  various  Christian  denominations  around  us,  all 
demand,  that  the  collected  wisdom,  piety,  and  zeal  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  be,  without  delay,  called  into  action,  for  furnish- 
ing the  Church  with  a  larger  supply  of  able  and  faithful  ministers. 

"2.  That  the  General  Assembly  will,  in  the  name  of  the 
Great  Head  of  the  Church,  immediately  attempt  to  establish  a 
seminary  for  securing  to  candidates  for  the  ministry  more  ex- 
tensive and  efficient  theological  instruction,  than  they  have 
heretofore  enjoyed.  The  local  situation  of  this  seminary  is 
hereafter  to  be  determined. 


Presbytery  would  become  thereby  bound  to  send  all  their  candidates  to  study  in  it, 
however  inconvenient  or  expensive  it  might  be.  Others  were  fearful,  that  the  Pro- 
fessors, in  such  a  seminary,  if  they  were  not  formally  empowered  to  license  candi- 
dates to  preach  the  Gospel,  might  be  clothed  with  powers  out  of  which  such  an 
abuse  would  naturally  grow,  thereby  endangering  both  the  purity  and  peace  of  the 
Church,  and  giving  to  a  few  men  very  dangerous  influence.  It  was  for  the  purpose 
of  obviating  these,  and  other  objections  to  a  single  seminary,  that  the  sixth,  seventh 
and  eighth  resolutions,  in  a  subscfjuent  page,  were  adopted  by  the  General  Assembly, 


8 

"  3.  That  in  this  seminary,  when  completely  organized, 
there  shall  be,  at  least,  three  Professors;  who  shall  be  elected 
by  and  hold  their  offices  during  the  pleasure  of  the  General 
Assembly;  and  who  shall  give  a  regular  course  of  instruction 
in  divinity,  in  oriental  and  biblical  literature,  and  in  ecclesias- 
tical history  and  church  government,  and  on  such  other  subjects 
as  may  be  deemed  necessary.  It  being,  however,  understood, 
that,  until  sufficient  funds  can  be  obtained  for  the  complete 
organization  and  support  of  the  proposed  seminary,  a  smaller 
number  of  Professors  than  three  may  be  appointed  to  commence 
the  business  of  instruction. 

"  4.  That  exertions  be  made  to  provide  such  an  amount  of 
funds  for  this  seminary,  as  will  enable  its  conductors  to  afford 
gratuitous  instruction,  and,  where  it  is  necessary,  gratuitous 
support,  to  all  such  students  as  may  not  themselves  possess 
adequate  pecuniary  means. 

"  5.  That  the  Rev.  Doctors  Green,  Woodhull,  Romeyn  and 
Miller,  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Archibald  Alexander,  James  Richards, 
and  Amzi  Armstrong,  be  a  committee  to  digest  and  prepare  a 
plan  of  a  theological  seminary;  embracing  in  detail  the  funda- 
mental principles  of  the  institution,  together  with  regulations 
for  guiding  the  conduct  of  the  instructors  and  the  students; 
and  prescribing  the  best  mode  of  visiting,  controlling,  and  sup- 
porting the  whole  system.  This  plan  to  be  reported  to  the 
next  General  Assembly. 

"  6.  That,  as  filling  the  Church  with  a  learned  and  able 
ministry,  without  a  corresponding  portion  of  real  piety,  would 
be  a  curse  to  the  world,  and  an  offence  to  God  and  his  people; 
so  the  General  Assembly  think  it  their  duty  to  state,  that,  in 
establishing  a  seminary  for  training  up  ministers,  it  is  their 
earnest  desire  to  guard,  as  far  as  possible,  against  so  great  an 
evil.  And  they  do  hereby  solemnly  pledge  themselves  to  the 
churches  under  their  care,  that  in  forming,  and  carrying  into 
execution  the  plan  of  the  proposed  seminary,  it  will  be  their 
endeavour  to  make  it,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  a  nursery  of 
vital  piety,  as  well  as  of  sound  theological  learning:  and  to  train 
up  persons  for  the  ministry,  who  shall  be  lovers,  as  well  as  de- 
fenders of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus;  friends  of  revivals  of 
religion;  and  a  blessing  to  the  Church  of  God. 

"  7.  That  as  the  Constitution  of  our  Church  guarantees  to 


every  Presbytery  the  right  of  judging  of  its  own  candidates 
for  licensure  and  ordination;  so  the  Assembly  think  it  proper 
to  state  most  explicitly,  that  every  Presbytery  and  Synod  will, 
of  course,  be  at  full  liberty,  to  countenance  the  proposed  plan 
or  not,  at  pleasure;  and  to  send  their  students  to  the  projected 
seminary,  or  keep  them,  as  heretofore,  within  their  own  bounds, 
as  they  may  think  most  conducive  to  the  prosperity  of  the 
Church. 

"  8.  That  the  Professors  in  the  seminary  shall  not,  in  any 
case,  be  considered  as  having  a  right  to  license  candidates  to 
preach  the  Gospel;  but  that  all  such  candidates  shall  be  remitted 
to  their  respective  Presbyteries  to  be  licensed,  as  heretofore." 

The  committee  appointed  to  prepare  a  constitution  in  detail 
for  the  contemplated  seminary,  made  report  to  the  General  As- 
sembly which  convened  in  1811;  which  report,  after  being 
duly  considered,  was  amended  and  adopted,  as  follows. 


PLAN 

OF  THE 

THEOLOGICAL     SEMINARY 

OF  THE 

PRESBYTERIAN     CHURCH 

IN  THE 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Inasmuch  as  the  obtaining  of  salvation  through  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  the  eternal  God,  is  the  chief  object 
which  claims  the  attention  of  man;  and  considering,  that  in  the 

*  The  Plan,  as  here  given,  includes  all  the  amendments  which  have  been  made 
in  it,  by  successive  Assembhes,  from  1811  to  the  date  of  the  present  publication, 
2 


10 

attainment  of  this  object  the  dispensation  of  the  Gospel  is 
principally  instrumental;  it  is  manifestly  of  the  highest  im- 
portance, that  the  best  means  be  used  to  insure  the  faithful 
preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  pure  administration  of  all  its 
ordinances.  With  this  view,  therefore,  institutions  for  the 
education  of  youth  intended  for  the  holy  ministry,  have  been 
established  in  all  Christian  countries,  and  have  been  found,  by 
long  experience,  most  eminently  conducive  to  the  prosperity 
of  the  Church.  Hence  the  founders  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America,  did,  from  its  very  origin, 
exert  themselves  with  peculiar  zeal  to  establish  and  endow 
colleges,  academies,  and  schools,  for  the  education  of  youth  for 
the  Gospel  ministry.  So  rapid,  however,  has  been  the  extension 
of  this  Church,  and  so  disproportionate,  of  late,  has  been  the 
number  of  ministers  educated,  to  the  call  which  has  been  made 
for  ministerial  service,  that  some  additional  and  vigourous 
efforts  to  increase  the  supply  are  loudly  and  affectingly  de- 
manded. Circumstances  also  do  imperiously  dictate,  not  only 
that  the  labourers  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  should  be  multi- 
plied, but  that  they  should  be  more  thoroughly  furnished  than 
they  have  ordinarily  been  for  the  arduous  work  to  which  they 
must  be  called.  Influenced  by  the  views  and  considerations 
now  recited,  the  General  Assembly,  after  mature  deliberation, 
have  resolved,  in  reliance  on  the  patronage  and  blessing  of  the 
Great  Head  of  the  Church,  to  establish  a  new  Institution,  con- 
secrated solely  to  the  education  of  men  for  the  Gospel  ministry, 
and  to  be  denominated.  The  Theological  Seminary  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America. 
And  to  the  intent  that  the  true  design  of  the  founders  of  this 
institution  may  be  known  to  the  public,  both  now  and  in  time 
to  come,  and  especially  that  this  design  may,  at  all  times,  be 
distinctly  viewed,  and  sacredly  regarded,  both  by  the  teachers 
and  the  pupils  of  the  seminary,  it  is  judged  proper  to  make  a 
summary  and  explicit  statement  of  it. 

It  is  to  form  men  for  the  Gospel  ministry,  who  shall  truly 
believe,  and  cordially  love,  and  therefore  endeavour  to  propa- 
gate and  defend,  in  its  genuineness,  simplicity,  and  fulness,  that 
system  of  religious  belief  and  practice  which  is  set  forth  in  the 
Confession  of  Faith,  Catechisms,  and  Plan  of  Government  and 
Discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Church;  and  thus  to  perpetuate 


11 

and  extend  the  influence  of  true  evangelical  piety  and  Gospel 
order. 

It  is  to  provide  for  the  Church  an  adequate  supply  and  suc- 
cession of  ahle  and  faithful  ministers  of  the  New  Testament; 
workmen  that  7ieed  not  to  he  ashamed,  being  qualified  rightly 
to  divide  the  ivord  of  truth. 

It  is  to  unite,  in  those  who  shall  sustain  the  ministerial  office, 
religion  and  literature;  that  piety  of  the  heart,  which  is  the 
fruit  only  of  the  renewing  and  sanctifying  grace  of  God,  with 
solid  learning:  believing  that  religion  without  learning,  or 
learning  without  religion,  in  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  must 
ultimately  prove  injurious  to  the  Church. 

It  is  to  afford  more  advantages  than  have  hitherto  been 
usually  possessed  by  the  ministers  of  religion  in  our  country, 
to  cultivate  both  piety  and  literature  in  their  preparatory  course; 
piety,  by  placing  it  in  circumstances  favourable  to  its  growth, 
and  by  cherishing  and  regulating  its  ardour;  literature,  by 
affording  favourable  opportunities  for  its  attainment,  and  by 
making  its  possession  indispensable. 

It  is  to  provide  for  the  Church,  men  who  shall  be  able  to 
defend  her  faith  against  infidels,  and  her  doctrines  against 
heretics. 

It  is  to  furnish  our  congregations  with  enlightened,  humble, 
zealous,  laborious  pastors,  who  shall  truly  watch  for  the  good 
of  souls,  and  consider  it  as  their  highest  honour  and  happiness 
to  win  them  to  the  Saviour,  and  to  build  up  their  several 
charges  in  holiness  and  peace. 

It  is  to  promote  harmony  and  unity  of  sentiment  among  the 
ministers  of  our  Church,  by  educating  a  large  bod}'^  of  them 
under  the  same  teachers,  and  in  the  same  course  of  study. 

It  is  to  lay  the  foundation  of  early  and  lasting  friendships, 
productive  of  confidence  and  mutual  assistance  in  after-life 
among  the  ministers  of  religion;  which  experience  shows  to 
be  conducive  not  only  to  personal  happiness,  but  to  the  per- 
fecting of  inquiries,  researches,  and  publications  advantageous 
to  religion. 

It  is  to  preserve  the  unity  of  our  Church,  by  educating  her 
ministers  in  an  enlightened  attachment,  not  only  to  the  same 
doctrines,  but  to  the  same  plan  of  government. 

It  is  to  bring  to  the  service  of  the  Church  genius  and  talent, 


12 

when  united  with  piety,  however  poor  or  obscure  may  be  their 
possessor,  by  furnishing,  as  far  as  possible,  the  means  of  educa- 
tion and  support,  without  expense  to  the  student. 

It  is  to  found  a  nursery  for  missionaries  to  the  heathen,  and 
to  such  as  are  destitute  of  the  stated  preaching  of  the  Gospel; 
in  which  youth  may  receive  that  appropriate  training  which 
may  lay  a  foundation  for  their  ultimately  becoming  eminently 
qualified  for  missionary  work. 

It  is,  finally,  to  endeavour  to  raise  up  a  succession  of  men,  at 
once  qualified  for  and  thoroughly  devoted  to  the  work  of  the 
Gospel  ministry;  who,  with  various  endowments,  suiting  them 
to  different  stations  in  the  Church  of  Christ,  may  all  possess  a 
portion  of  the  spirit  of  the  primitive  propagators  of  the  Gospel; 
prepared  to  make  every  sacrifice,  to  endure  every  hardship, 
and  to  render  every  service  which  the  promotion  of  pure  and 
undefiled  religion  may  require. 

ARTICLE   I. 

Of  the  General  Jlsse^nhly. 

Sect.  1.  As  this  institution  derives  its  origin  from  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly,  so  that  body  is  to  be  considered  at  all  times  as 
its  patron,  and  the  fountain  of  its  powers.  The  Assembly  shall, 
accordingly,  ultimately  sanction  all  its  laws,  direct  its  instruc- 
tions, and  appoint  its  principal  officers. 

Sect.  2.  The  General  Assembly  shall  choose  a  Board  of  Di- 
rectors, consisting  of  twenty-one  ministers,  and  nine  ruling 
elders,  by  whom  the  Seminary  shall  be  inspected  and  conducted. 
Of  this  number,  one-third,  or  seven  ministers  and  three  elders, 
shall  be  chosen  annually;  to  continue  in  office  three  years. 
And  if  any  vacancy  shall  occur  in  the  Board,  by  death,  resig- 
nation, or  incapacity  to  serve,  the  Assembly  may  annually  fill 
up  such  vacancies. 

Sect.  3.  All  Professors  of  the  Seminary  shall  be  appointed  by 
the  Assembly.  But  in  cases  of  necessity,  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors may  employ  a  suitable  person  to  perform  the  duties  of  a 
Professor,  till  a  meeting  of  the  Assembly  shall  take  place. 

Sect.  4.  The  General  Assembly  shall,  at  all  times,  have  the 
power  of  adding  to  the  Constitutional  Articles  of  the  Seminary, 
and  of  abrogating,  altering,  or  amending  them;  but,    in    the 


13 

exercise  of  this  power,  the  contemplated  additions,  abrogations, 
alterations,  or  amendments,  shall,  in  every  case,  be  proposed  at 
one  Assembly,  and  not  adopted  till  the  Assembly  of  the  subse- 
quent year,  except  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

ARTICLE  II. 

Of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

Sect.  1.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  meet  statedly,  twice 
in  each  year;  once  in  the  spring  and  once  in  the  fall,  and 
oftener  on  their  own  adjournments,  if  they  shall  judge  it  expe- 
dient. Nine  members  of  the  Board  shall  be  a  quorum;  pro- 
vided always,  that  of  this  number,  five,  at  least,  be  ministers  of 
the  Gospel,  and  the  President,  or,  in  case  of  his  absence,  one  of 
the  Vice  Presidents,  be  one. 

Sect.  2.  The  Board  shall  choose  out  of  their  own  number,  a 
President,  two  Vice  Presidents,  and  a  Secretary.  In  the  ab- 
sence of  the  President  and  Vice  Presidents,  the  senior  member 
present  shall  preside. 

Sect.  3.  The  President  of  the  Board,  or  in  the  event  of  his 
death,  absence,  or  inability  to  act,  the  first  Vice  President 
shall,  at  the  request  of  any  three  members,  expressed  to  him  in 
writing,  call  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  by  a 
circular  letter  addressed  to  each;  in  which  letter  notice  shall 
be  given,  not  only  of  the  place  and  time  of  meeting,  but  of  the 
business  intended  to  be  transacted  at  the  meeting  notified;  and 
this  letter  shall  be  sent  at  least  twenty  days  before  the  time  of 
said  meeting. 

Sect.  4.  The  Secretary  of  the  Board  shall  keep  accurate  re- 
cords of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  Directors;  and  it  shall  be  his 
duty  to  lay  these  records,  or  a  faithful  transcript  of  the  same, 
before  the  General  Assembly,  annually,  for  the  unrestrained 
inspection  of  all  the  members. 

Sect.  5.  Every  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  be 
opened  and  closed  with  prayer. 

Sect.  6.  The  Board  of  Directors  may  make  rules  and  regu- 
lations for  the  performance  of  the  duties  assigned  them,  or  for 
the  preservation  of  order,  not  inconsistent  with  the  prescrip- 
tions of  this  plan,  or  the  orders  of  the  General  Assembly. 

Sect.  7.   At  the  commencement  of  each  stated  spring  meet- 


14 

ing,  the  whole  plan  of  the  Seminary  shall  be  distinctly  read 
before  the  Board  of  Directors. 

Sect.  8.  The  Board  shall  direct  the  Professors  of  the  Semi- 
nary, in  regard  to  the  subjects  and  topics  on  which  they  are 
severally  to  give  instructions  to  the  pupils,  so  far  as  the  same 
shall  not  be  prescribed  by  this  plan,  or  by  the  orders  of  the 
General  Assembly. 

Sect.  9.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Directors  to 
inaugurate  the  Professors  of  the  Seminary,  and  to  direct  what 
forms  shall  be  used,  and  what  services  performed,  on  such  oc- 
casions. 

Sect.  10.  Every  Director,  previously  to  his  taking  his  seat 
as  a  member  of  the  Board,  shall  solemnly  subscribe  the  follow- 
ing formula,  viz. — "  Approving  the  plan  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  I  solemnly  declare  and  promise,  in  the  presence  of 
God  and  of  this  Board,  that  I  will  faithfully  endeavour  to  carry 
into  effect  all  the  articles  and  provisions  of  said  plan,  and  to 
promote  the  great  design  of  the  Seminary." 

Sect.  11.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  inspect  the  fidelity 
of  the  Professors,  especially  in  regard  to  the  doctrines  actually 
taught;  and  if,  after  due  inquiry  and  examination,  they  shall 
judge  that  any  Professor  is  either  unsound  in  the  faith,  opposed 
to  the  fundamental  principles  of  Presbyterian  Church  Govern- 
ment, immoral  in  his  conduct,  unfaithful  to  his  trust,  or  incom- 
petent to  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  they  shall  faithfully  report 
him  as  such  to  the  General  Assembly.  Or  if  the  longer  con- 
tinuance of  a  Professor  be  judged  highly  dangerous,  the  Direc- 
tors may  immediately  suspend  him,  and  appoint  another  in  his 
place,  till  the  whole  business  can  be  reported,  and  submitted  to 
the  Assembly. 

Sect.  12.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Directors  to 
watch  over  the  conduct  of  the  students;  to  redress  grievances; 
to  examine  into  the  whole  course  of  instruction  and  study  in 
the  Seminary;  and  generally  to  superintend  and  endeavour  to 
promote  all  its  interests. 

Sect.  13.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  make,  in  writing,  a 
detailed  and  faithful  report  of  the  state  of  the  Seminary,  to 
every  General   Assembly;  and  they  may,  at  the  same  time, 


15 

recommend  such  measures  for  the  advantage  of  the  Seminary, 
as  to  them  may  appear  proper. 

Sect.  14.  At  every  stated  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors, 
unless  particular  circumstances  render  it  inexpedient,  there 
shall  be  at  least  one  sermon  delivered  in  presence  of  the  Board, 
the  Professors,  and  students,  by  a  Director  or  Directors,  pre- 
viously appointed  for  the  purpose. 

ARTICLE  III. 

Of  the  Professors. 

Sect.  1.  The  number  of  the  Professors  in  the  Seminary  shall 
be  increased  or  diminished,  as  the  Assembly  ma}^,  from  time 
to  time,  direct.  But  when  the  Seminary  shall  be  completely 
organized,  there  shall  not  be  less  than  three  Professors;  one  of 
Didactic  and  Polemic  Divinity;  one  of  Oriental  and  Biblical 
Literature;  and  one  of  Ecclesiastical  History  and  Church  Go- 
vernment. 

Sect.  2.  No  person  shall  be  inducted  into  the  office  of  Pro- 
fessor of  Divinity,  but  an  ordained  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

Sect.  3.  Every  person  elected  to  a  professorship  in  this 
Seminary,  shall,  on  being  inaugurated,  solemnly  subscribe  the 
Confession  of  Faith,  Catechisms,  and  Form  of  Government  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  agreeably  to  the  following  formula, 
viz. — "In  the  presence  of  God  and  the  Directors  of  this  Semi- 
nary, I  do  solemnly,  and  ex  animo  adopt,  receive,  and  subscribe 
the  Confession  of  Faith,  and  Catechisms  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  as  the  confession  of 
my  faith;  or,  as  a  summary  and  just  exhibition  of  that  system 
of  doctrine  and  religious  belief  which  is  contained  in  holy 
Scripture,  and  therein  revealed  by  God  to  man  for  his  salvation; 
and  I  do  solemnly,  ex  animo  profess  to  receive  the  Form  of 
Government  of  said  Church,  as  agreeable  to  the  inspired  oracles. 
And  I  do  solemnly  promise  and  engage,  not  to  inculcate,  teach, 
or  insinuate  any  thing  which  shall  appear  to  me  to  contradict 
or  contravene,  either  directly  or  impliedly,  any  thing  taught  in 
the  said  Confession  of  Faith  or  Catechisms;  nor  to  oppose  any 
of  the  fundam.ental  principles  of  Presbyterian  Church  Govern- 
ment, while  I  shall  continue  a  Professor  in  this  Seminary." 

Sect.  4.  The  salaries  of  the  Professors  shall  be  recommended 


16 

by  the  Directors;  but  they  shall  be  fixed  only  by  a  vote  of  the 
General  Assembly. 

Sect.  5,  The  Professors  may  accompany  their  lectures  and 
recitations  with  prayer,  as  frequently  as  they  may  judge  proper, 
in  addition  to  those  daily  seasons  of  prayer  in  which  all  the 
students  will  unite. 

Sect.  6.  Each  Professor  shall  lay  before  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors, as  soon  as  practicable  after  his  appointment,  a  detailed 
exhibition  of  the  system  and  method  which  he  proposes  to 
pursue,  and  the  subjects  which  he  proposes  to  discuss,  in  con- 
ducting the  studies  of  the  youth  that  shall  come  under  his  care: 
and  in  this  system  he  shall  make  such  alterations  or  additions 
as  the  board  shall  direct;  so  that,  eventually,  the  whole  course 
through  which  the  pupils  shall  be  carried,  shall  be  no  other 
than  that  which  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  approved 
and  sanctioned,  conformably  to  Sect.  8.  Art.  II.  And  as  often 
as  any  Professor  shall  think  that  variations  and  additions  of 
importance  may  be  advantageously  introduced  into  his  course 
of  teaching,  he  shall  submit  the  same  to  the  Board  of  Directors, 
for  their  approbation  or  rejection. 

Sect.  7.  Every  Professor  shall,  if  practicable,  have  at  least 
one  lecture  or  recitation  every  day,  on  which  the  pupils,  in  his 
branch  of  instruction,  shall  be  bound  to  attend;  and  on  which 
the  other  pupils  of  the  Seminary  shall  attend  as  often,  and  in 
such  manner,  as  may  be  directed  by  the  majority  of  the  Board 
of  Directors. 

Sect.  S.  Any  Professor  Intending  to  resign  his  office,  shall 
give  six  months  notice  of  such  intention  to  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors. 

Sect.  9.  The  Professors  of  the  institution  shall  be  considered 
as  a  faculty.  They  shall  meet  at  such  seasons  as  they  may 
judge  proper.  In  every  meeting  the  Professor  of  didactic  and 
polemic  divinity  shall  preside,  if  he  be  present.  If  he  be  ab- 
sent, a  president  shall  be  chosen  pro  tempore.  The  faculty 
shall  choose  a  clerk,  and  keep  accurate  records  of  all  their  pro- 
ceedings; which  records  shall  be  laid  before  the  Directors  at 
every  meeting  of  the  Board.  The  president  of  the  faculty  shall 
call  a  meeting  whenever  he  shall  judge  it  expedient,  and  when- 
ever he  shall  be  requested  to  do  so  by  any  other  member.  By 
the  faculty,  regularly  convened,  shall  be  determined  the  hours 


17 

and  seasons  at  which  the  classes  shall  attend  the  Professors 
severally,  so  as  to  prevent  interference  and  confusion,  and  to 
afford  to  the  pupils  the  hest  opportunities  of  improvement 
The  faculty  shall  attend  to,  and  decide  on  all  cases  of  discipline, 
and  all  questions  of  order,  as  they  shall  arise.  They  shall  agree 
on  the  rules  of  order,  decorum,  and  duty,  (not  inconsistent  with 
any  provision  in  the  plan  of  the  Seminary,  nor  with  any  order 
of  the  Board  of  Directors,)  to  which  the  students  shall  be  sub- 
jected, and  these  they  shall  reduce  to  writing,  and  cause  to  be 
publicly  and  frequently  read.  They  shall  determine  the  hours 
at  which  the  whole  of  the  pupils  shall,  morning  and  evening, 
attend  for  social  worship,  and  the  manner  in  which,  and  the 
person  or  persons,  of  their  own  number,  by  whom,  the  exercises 
of  devotion  shall  be  conducted. 

Sect.  10.  The  faculty  shall  be  empowered  to  dismiss  from 
the  Seminary  any  student  who  shall  prove  unsound  in  his  re- 
ligious sentiments;  immoral  or  disorderly  in  his  conduct;  or 
who  may  be,  in  their  opinion,  on  any  account  whatsoever,  a 
dangerous  or  unprofitable  member  of  the  Institution. 

Sect.  11.  Each  member  of  the  faculty  shall  have  an  equal 
vote. 

Sect.  12.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Professors,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  to  supply  the  pupils  of  the 
Institution  with  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  sacraments  of  the  Christian  Church;  if  this  supply 
shall  not,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Directors,  be  satisfactorily 
furnished  by  a  Church  or  Churches  in  the  place  where  the  la- 
stitution  shall  be  established. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

Of  Study  a7id  .Attainments. 

As  the  particular  course  of  study  pursued  in  any  institution 
will,  and  perhaps  ought  to  be  modified  in  a  considerable  degree, 
by  the  views  and  habits  of  the  teachers;  and  ought,  moreover, 
to  be  varied,  altered,  or  extended,  as  experience  may  suggest 
improvements;  it  is  judged  proper  to  specify,  not  so  precisely 
the  course  of  study,  as  the  attainments  which  must  be  made- 
Therefore, 

Sect.  1.  Every  student,  at  the  close  of  his  course,  must  have 
3 


18 

made  the  following  attainments,  viz.  He  must  be  well  skilled 
in  the  original  languages  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  He  must  be 
able  to  explain  the  principal  difnculties  which  arise  in  the  peru- 
sal of  the  Scriptures,  either  from  erroneous  translations,  appa- 
rent inconsistencies,  real  obscurities,  or  objections  arising  from 
history,  reason,  or  argument.  He  must  be  versed  in  Jewish 
and  Christian  antiquities,  which  serve  to  explain  and  illustrate 
Scripture.  He  must  have  an  acquaintance  with  ancient  geo- 
graphy, and  with  oriental  customs,  which  throw  light  on  the 
sacred  records. — Thus  he  will  have  laid  the  foundation  for  be- 
coming a  sound  biblical  critic. 

He  must  have  read  and  digested  the  principal  arguments  and 
writings  relative  to  what  has  been  called  the  deistical  contro- 
versy.— Thus  will  he  be  qualified  to  become  a  defender  of  the 
Christian  faith. 

He  must  be  able  to  support  the  doctrines  of  the  Confession 
of  Faith  and  Catechisms,  by  a  ready,  pertinent,  and  abundant 
quotation  of  Scripture  texts  for  that  purpose.  He  must  have 
studied,  carefully  and  correctly.  Natural,  Didactic,  Polemic,  and 
Casuistic  Theology.  He  must  have  a  considerable  acquaintance 
with  General  History  and  Chronology,  and  a  particular  ac- 
quaintance with  the  history  of  the  Christian  Church. — Thus  he 
will  be  preparing  to  become  an  able  and  sound  divine  and 
casuist. 

He  must  have  read  a  considerable  number  of  the  best  practi- 
cal writers  on  the  subject  of  religion.  He  must  have  learned 
to  compose  with  correctness  and  readiness  in  his  own  language, 
and  to  deliver  what  he  has  composed  to  others  in  a  natural  and 
acceptable  manner.  He  must  be  well  acquainted  with  the  se- 
veral parts,  and  the  proper  structure  of  popular  lectures  and 
sermons.  He  must  have  composed  at  least  two  lectures  and 
four  popular  sermons,  that  shall  have  been  approved  by  the 
Professors.  He  must  have  carefully  studied  the  duties  of  the 
pastoral  care. — Thus  he  will  be  prepared  to  become  a  useful 
preacher,  and  a  faithful  pastor. 

He  must  have  studied  attentively  the  form  of  Church  Go- 
vernment authorized  by  the  Scriptures,  and  the  administration 
of  it  as  it  has  taken  place  in  Protestant  Cluirches. — Thus  he 
will  be  qualified  to  exercise  discipline,  and  to  take  part  in  the 
government  of  the  Church  in  all  its  judicatories. 


19 

Sect.  2.  The  period  of  continuance  in  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary shall,  in  no  case,  be  less  than  three  years,  previously  to 
an  examination  for  a  certificate  of  approbation.  But  students 
may  enter  the  Seminary,  and  enjoy  the  course  of  instruction 
for  a  shorter  time  than  three  years,  provided  they  in  all  other 
respects  submit  to  the  laws  of  the  Seminary,  of  which  facts  they 
may  receive  a  written  declaration  from  the  Professors. 

SecL  3.  There  shall  be  an  examination  of  all  the  pupils  in 
the  Seminary,  at  every  stated  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 
Those  pupils  who  shall  have  regularly  and  diligently  studied 
for  three  years,  shall  be  admitted  to  an  examination  on  the 
subjects  specified  in  this  article.  All  examinations  shall  be 
conducted  by  the  Professors,  in  the  presence  of  the  Directors, 
or  a  committee  of  them.  Every  Director  present  shall  be  at 
liberty,  during  the  progress  of  any  examination,  or  after  the 
same  shall  have  been  closed  by  the  Professors,  to  put  to  any 
pupil  such  questions  as  he  shall  deem  proper.  Every  pupil 
that  shall  have  passed  his  final  examination  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  Directors  present,  shall  receive  a  certificate  of  the  same, 
signed  by  the  Professors,  with  which  he  shall  be  remitted  to 
the  Presbytery  under  whose  care  he  is  placed,  to  be  disposed 
of  as  such  Presbytery  shall  direct.  Those  who  do  not  pass  a 
satisfactory  examination,  shall  remain  a  longer  space  in  the 
Seminary. 

Sect.  4.  It  shall  be  the  object  of  the  Professors  to  make  such 
arrangements  in  the  instruction  of  their  pupils,  as  shall  be  best 
adapted  to  enable  them,  in  the  space  of  three  years,  to  be  exa- 
mined with  advantage  on  the  subjects  specified  in  this  article. 

ARTICLE  V. 

Of  Devotion,  and  Improvement  in  Practical  Piety. 
It  ought  to  be  considered  as  an  object  of  primary  importance 
by  every  student  in  the  Seminary,  to  be  careful  and  vigilant 
not  to  lose  that  inward  sense  of  the  power  of  godliness  which 
he  may  have  attained ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  to  grow  continually 
in  a  spirit  of  enlightened  devotion  and  fervent  piety;  deeply 
impressed  with  the  recollection  that  without  this,  all  his  other 
acquisitions  will  be  comparatively  of  little  worth,  either  to 
himself,  or  to  the  Church  of  which  he  is  to  be  a  minister. 


20 

He  must  remember,  too,  that  this  is  a  species  of  improvement 
which  must  of  necessity  be  left,  in  a  great  measure,  with  him- 
self, as  a  concern  between  God  and  his  own  soul. 

It  is  proper,  however,  to  delineate  the  path  of  duty,  to  ex- 
press the  wishes  and  expectations  of  the  founders  of  the  Semi- 
nary, and  to  make  such  requirements  as  the  nature  of  the  sub- 
ject will  permit. 

Sect.  1.  It  is  expected  that  every  student  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  will  spend  a  portion  of  time  every  morning  and 
evening  in  devout  meditation,  and  self-recollection  and  exami- 
nation; in  reading  the  holy  Scriptures,  solely  with  a  view  to  a 
personal  and  practical  application  of  the  passage  read,  to  his 
own  heart,  character,  and  circumstances;  and  in  humble,  fervent 
prayer  and  praise  to  God  in  secret. 

The  whole  of  every  Lord's  day  is  to  be  devoted  to  devotional 
exercises,  either  of  a  social  or  secret  kind.  Intellectual  pur- 
suits, not  immediately  connected  with  devotion,  or  the  religion 
of  the  heart,  are  on  that  day  to  be  forborne.  The  books  to  be 
read  are  to  be  of  a  practical  nature.  The  conversations  had 
with  each  other  are  to  be  chiefly  on  religious  subjects.  Asso- 
ciations for  prayer  and  praise,  and  for  religious  conference, 
calculated  to  promote  a  growth  in  grace,  are  also  proper  for 
this  day;  subject  to  such  regulations  as  the  Professors  and  Di- 
rectors may  see  proper  to  prescribe.  It  is  wished  and  recom- 
mended, that  each  student  should  ordinarily  set  apart  one  day 
in  a  month  for  special  prayer  and  self-examination  in  secret, 
and  also  that  he  should,  on  suitable  occasions,  attend  to  the 
duty  of  fasting. 

Sect.  2.  If  any  student  shall  exhibit,  in  his  general  deport- 
ment, a  levity  or  indifference  in  regard  to  practical  religion, 
though  it  do  not  amount  to  any  overt  act  of  irreligion  or  im- 
morality, it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Professor  who  may  observe 
it,  to  admonish  him  tenderly  and  faithfully  in  private,  and  en- 
deavour to  engage  him  to  a  more  holy  temper,  and  a  more 
exemplary  deportment. 

Sect.  3.  If  a  student,  after  due  admonition,  persist  in  a  system 
of  conduct  not  exemplary  in  regard  to  religion,  he  shall  be 
dismissed  from  the  Seminary. 

Sect.  4.  The  Professors  are  particularly  charged,  by  all  the 
proper  means  in  their  power,  to  encourage,  cherish  and  promote 


21 

devotion  and  personal  piety  among  their  pupils,  by  warning 
and  guarding  them,  on  the  one  hand,  against  formality  and 
indifference,  and  on  the  other,  against  ostentation  and  enthusi- 
asm; by  inculcating  practical  religion  in  their  lectures  and 
recitations;  by  taking  suitable  occasions  to  converse  with  their 
pupils  privately  on  this  interesting  subject;  and  by  all  other 
means,  incapable  of  being  minutely  specified,  by  which  they 
may  foster  true  experimental  religion,  and  unreserved  devoted- 
ness  to  God. 


ARTICLE  VI. 

Of  the  Students. 

Sect.  1.  Every  student  applying  for  admission  to  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  shall  produce  satisfactory  testimonials  that'he 
possesses  good  natural  talents,  and  is  of  a  prudent  and  discreet 
deportment;  that  he  is  in  full  communion  with  some  regular 
Church;  that  he  has  passed  through  a  regular  course  of  acade- 
mical study;  or,  wanting  this,  he  shall  submit  himself  to  an 
examination  in  regard  to  the  branches  of  literature  taught  in 
such  a  course. 

Sect.  2.  The  first  six  months  of  every  student  in  the  Semi- 
nary shall  be  considered  as  probationary;  and  if,  at  the  end  of 
this  period,  any  student  shall  appear  to  the  Professors  not  qua- 
lified to  proceed  in  his  studies,  they  shall  so  report  him  to  the 
Board  of  Directors,  who,  if  they  are  of  the  same  opinion  with 
the  Professors,  shall  dismiss  him  from  the  Seminary. 

Sect.  3.  The  hours  of  study  and  of  recreation  for  the  students 
shall  be  fixed  by  the  Professors,  with  the  concurrence  of  the 
Directors;  and  every  student  shall  pay  a  strict  regard  to  the 
rules  established  relative  to  this  subject. 

Sect.  4.  Every  student  shall  be  obliged  to  write  on  such 
theological  and  other  subjects,  as  may  be  prescribed  to  him  by 
the  Professors.  In  the  first  year,  every  student  shall  be  obliged 
to  produce  a  written  composition  on  such  subjects,  at  least  once 
in  every  month;  in  the  second  year,  once  in  three  weeks;  in 
the  third  year,  once  in  two  weeks.  Each  student  shall  also 
commit  to  memory  a  piece  of  his  own  composition,  and  pro- 
nounce it  in  public,  before   the  Professors  and  students,  as  fre- 


22 

quently  as,  in  the  judgment  of  the  Professors,  this  exercise  can 
properly  be  performed,  when  a  due  regard  is  had  to  the  num- 
bers who  must  engage  in  it,  and  to  the  other  duties  of  the 
Seminary. 

Sect.  5.  Every  student  shall  not  only  preserve  an  exemplary 
moral  character,  but  shall  be  expected  to  treat  his  teachers  with 
the  greatest  deference  and  respect,  and  all  other  persons  with 
civility. 

Sect.  6.  Every  student  shall  yield  a  prompt  and  ready  obe- 
dience to  all  the  lawful  requisitions  of  the  Professors  and  Di- 
rectors. 

Sect.  7.  Diligence  and  industry  in  study  shall  be  considered 
as  indispensable  in  every  student,  unless  the  want  of  health 
shall  prevent,  of  which  the  Professors  shall  take  cognizance, 
and  make  the  suitable  allowance. 

Sect.  8.  Strict  temperance  in  meat  and  drink  is  expected  of 
every  student,  with  cleanliness  and  neatness  in  his  dress  and 
habits;  while  all  excessive  expense  in  clothing  is  strictly  pro- 
hibited. 

Sect.  9.  Every  student,  before  he  takes  his  standing  in  the 
Seminary,  shall  subscribe  the  following  declaration,  viz. — 
*' Deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  importance  of  improv- 
ing in  knowledge,  prudence,  and  piety,  in  my  preparation  for 
the  Gospel  ministry,  1  solemnly  promise,  in  a  reliance  on 
divine  grace,  that  I  will  faithfully  and  diligently  attend  on  all 
the  instructions  of  this  Seminary,  and  that  I  will  conscientiously 
and  vigilantly  observe  all  the  rules  and  regulations  specified  in 
the  plan  for  its  instruction  and  government,  so  far  as  the  same 
relate  to  the  students;  and  that  I  will  obey  all  the  lawful  requi- 
sitions, and  readily  yield  to  all  the  wholesome  admonitions  of 
the  Professors  and  Directors  of  the  Seminary,  while  I  shall 
continue  a  member  of  it." 

Sect.  10.  There  shall  be  three  vacations  in  the  Seminary 
every  year.  The  spring  vacation  to  continue  six  weeks;  the 
fall  vacation  six  weeks;  and  the  winter  vacation  two  weeks. 
The  vacations  to  commence  at  such  times  as  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors shall  deem  most  expedient. 


23 


ARTICLE  VII.* 

Of  the  Librin^y. 

Sect.  1.  To  obtain,  ultimately,  a  complete  theological  library, 
shall  be  considered  as  a  leading  object  of  the  Institution. 

Sect.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Directors  to  present  to 
the  General  Assembly,  a  catalogue  of  the  most  necessary  books 
for  the  commencement  of  a  library,  and  recommend  the  pur- 
chase of  such  a  number  as  the  state  of  the  funds  will  permit. 

Sect.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Professors  to  procure  and 
keep  a  large  folio,  to  be  denominated,  The  Prospectus  of  a 
Catalogue  of  a  Theological  Library.  In  this  folio,  divided 
into  proper  heads,  each  Professor  shall,  at  his  pleasure,  enter, 
in  its  proper  place,  the  title  of  such  books  as  he  shall  delibe- 
rately judge  to  be  proper  for  the  library.  The  Board  of  Direc- 
tors, or  the  members  of  it  individually,  may  do  the  same. 
From  this  folio  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Directors  to  select 
such  books  as  they  think  most  necessary,  and  as  the  sum  appro- 
priated for  the  current  year  will  purchase,  and  recommend 
their  purchase  to  the  Assembly.  The  Assembly  shall,  annually, 
decide  by  vote,  what  sum  of  money,  for  the  current  year,  shall 
be  laid  out  in  the  purchase  of  books. 

Sect.  4.  A  suitable  room  or  apartment  shall  be  assigned  for 
the  library.  The  shelves  for  the  books  shall  be  divided  into 
compartments  or  alcoves;  and  if  any  one  of  them  be  filled,  or 
nearly  so,  by  a  donor,  his  name  shall  be  conspicuously  placed 
over  it. 

Sect.  5.  A  librarian  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Assembly. 

Sect.  6.  No  book  shall  be  permitted,  on  any  occasion,  to  be 
carried  from  the  Seminary. 

Sect.  7.  A  book  of  donations  shall  be  carefully  kept  by  the 
librarian,  in  which  shall  be  entered,  by  him,  the  books  given 
to  the  library,  the  time  when,  and  the  name  of  the  donor. 

Sect.  8.  Regulations  for  the  use  of  the  librar}'^,  not  inconsis- 
tent with  the  provisions  of  this  article,  shall  be  detailed  in  a 
system  of  bye-laws,  for  that  purpose;  to  be  drafted  by  the 
first  librarian,  and  occasionally  modified  and  added  to,  as  cir- 
cumstances shall  require,  by  his  successors;  which  regulations, 

*  This  article  is  laid  over  for  the  consideration  of  a  future  Assembly. 


24 

after  being  ratified  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  shall  be  authori- 
tative. 


ARTICLE  VIII. 

Of  the  Funds. 

Sect.  1.  The  funds  of  the  Institution  shall  be  kept,  at  all 
times,  entirely  distinct  and  separate  from  all  other  monies  or 
funds  whatsoever;  and  they  shall  be  deposited  in  the  hands  of 
such  corporation,  or  disposed  of  for  safe  keeping  and  improve- 
ment, in  such  other  manner  as  the  General  Assembly  shall 
direct. 

Sect.  2.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall,  from  time  to  time,  as 
they  may  see  proper,  lay  before  the  Assembly  plans  for  the 
improvement  of  the  funds,  and  propositions  for  the  appropria- 
tion of  such  sums  as  they  may  think  necessary  for  particular 
purposes. 

Sect.  3.  No  money  shall,  at  any  time,  be  drawn  from  the 
funds,  but  by  an  appropriation  and  order  of  the  Assembly  for 
the  purpose. 

Sect.  4.  A  fair  statement  shall  annually  be  laid  before  the 
Assembly,  by  the  proper  officer,  of  the  amount  of  the  funds  be- 
longing to  the  Seminary,  of  the  items  which  constitute  that 
amount,  and  of  the  expenditures  in  detail  for  the  preceding 
year. 

Sect.  5.  The  intentions  and  directions  of  testators  or  donors, 
in  regard  to  monies,  or  other  property,  left,  or  given  to  the 
Seminary,  shall,  at  all  times,  be  sacredly  regarded.  And  if  any 
individual,  or  any  number  of  individuals,  not  greater  than 
three,  shall,  by  will,  or  during  his  or  their  lives,  found  or  en- 
dow a  professorship  or  professorships,  a  scholarship  or  scholar- 
ships, or  a  fund  or  funds,  destined  for  special  purposes,  said 
professorships,  scholarships,  or  funds,  shall  forever  afterwards 
be  called  and  known  by  the  name  or  names  of  those  who 
founded  or  endov^^ed  them.  And  if  any  congregation,  presby- 
tery, synod,  or  association,  shall  found  a  professorship  or  pro- 
fessorships, scholarship  or  scholarships,  fund  or  funds,  said 
professorship  or  professorships,  scholarship  or  scholarships, 
fund  or  funds,  shall  forever  afterwards  be  called  or  known  by 
such  name  as  the  body  founding  them  shall  give. 


25 

Sect.  6.  After  supporting  the  Professors,  and  defraying  the 
other  necessary  charges  of  the  Seminary,  the  funds  shall  be 
applied,  as  far  as  circumstances  will  admit,  to  defray  or  dimin- 
ish the  expenses  of  those  students  who  may  need  pecuniary 
aid,  as  well  as  to  lessen,  generally,  the  expense  of  a  residence 
at  the  Seminary. 

After  adopting  the  foregoing  Plan,  the  General  Assembly 
which  met  in  1811,  did  little  more  than  take  measures  for  col- 
lecting funds  for  the  proposed  Institution,  by  appointing  a 
number  of  agents  in  all  the  Synods  for  that  purpose;  who  were 
instructed  to  proceed  with  as  little  delay,  and  as  much  energy, 
as  possible,  and  to  report  to  the  Assembly  of  the  next  year. 
They  also  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  trustees  of 
the  College  of  New  Jersey,  at  Princeton,  respecting  any  faci- 
lities and  privileges  which  the  said  trustees  might  be  disposed 
to  give  to  a  Theological  Seminary,  if  located  in  Princeton. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  next  Assembly,  in  May,  1812,  the 
location  of  the  Seminary  was  fixed  at  Princeton,  in  New  Jer- 
sey; a  Board  of  Directors  was  elected;  and  the  Rev.  Archibald 
Alexander,  D.  D.,  a  native  of  Virginia,  for  some  time  President 
of  Hampden  Sidney  College,  and  at  that  time  pastor  of  the 
third  Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadelphia,  was  appointed  Pro- 
fessor of  Didactic  and  Polemic  Theology.  On  the  last  Tuesday 
of  June  following,  the  Board  of  Directors  held  their  first  meet- 
ing, at  Princeton.  On  the  12th  day  of  August,  of  the  same 
year,  the  Board  of  Directors  met  again,  and  Dr.  Alexander,  the 
Professor  elect,  was  solemnly  inaugurated,  and  entered  on  the 
duties  of  his  office.  The  number  of  students  at  the  opening  of 
the  Institution,  on  the  day  last  mentioned,  was  three. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Assembly,  in  May,  1813,  the  number 
of  students  had  increased  to  eight.  By  this  Assembly,  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Miller,  D.  D.,  a  native  of  the  State  of  Delaware, 
and,  at  the  time  of  his  election,  pastor  of  the  first  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  city  of  New  York,  was  elected  Professor  of  Ec- 
clesiastical History  and  Church  Government,  and  was  inaugu- 
rated by  the  Board  of  Directors  on  the  29th  of  September 
following.  By  this  Assembly  also,  the  location  of  the  Seminary 
in  Princeton,  which  had  been  before  temporary,  was  now  made 
permanent. 
4 


26 

The  General  Assembly  which  met  in  May,  1815,  taking 
into  consideration  the  great  inconveniences  resulting  to  the 
Institution  from  the  want  of  suitable  apartments  for  the  recita- 
tions, and  other  exercises  of  the  Seminary;  and  more'especially 
the  numerous  privations,  and  even  danger  to  their  health,  to 
which  the  students  were  subjected  by  the  want  of  convenient 
places  of  lodging  ;  determined  to  erect  a  public  edifice  in 
Princeton,  which  should  contain  all  the  public  apartments  in- 
dispensably necessary  for  the  present,  and  also  lodging  rooms 
for  the  comfortable  accommodation  of  the  pupils.  Accordingly, 
this  edifice  was  commenced  in  the  autumn  of  that  year;  was 
first  occupied  by  the  Professors  and  students  in  the  autumn  of 
1817,  when  about  one-half  of  the  apartments  were  prepared  for 
their  reception  ;  and  was  soon  afterwards  completed.  This 
building  is  of  stone;  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  length,  fifty 
in  breadth,  and  four  stories  hig1i,  including  the  basement  story. 
It  has  been  admired  by  all  who  have  seen  it,  as  a  model  of  neat, 
and  tasteful,  and,  at  the  same  time,  of  plain,  economical,  and 
remarkably  solid  workmanship.  Besides  the  apartments  neces- 
sary for  the  library,  the  recitations,  the  refectory  establishment, 
and  the  accommodation  of  the  steward  and  his  family,  this  edi- 
fice will  furnisli  lodgings  for  about  eighty  pupils. 

During  the  first  year  after  the  establishment  of  the  Seminary, 
the  Professor  of  Didactic  and  Polemic  Theology,  besides  his 
own  appropriate  duties,  discharged,  as  far  as  practicable,  those 
also,  pertaining  to  the  Professorship  of  Oriental  and  Biblical 
Literature.  And  on  the  appointment  of  a  second  Professor,  in 
1813,  they  divided  the  whole  course  of  instruction,  prescribed 
by  the  plan  of  the  Seminary  between  them.  But  the  Assembly 
which  met  in  May,  1820,  finding  that  the  health  of  the  Profes- 
sor of  Didactic  and  Polemic  Theology,  as  well  as  his  other 
duties,  did  not  admit  of  his  longer  continuing  to  conduct  the 
instruction  in  the  original  languages  of  Scripture,  resolved  to 
authorize  the  Professors  to  appoint  an  assistant  teacher  of  those 
languages.  And  to  this  office,  Mr.  Charles  Hodge,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  then  a  licentiate,  under  the  care  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia,  but  since  ordained  to  the  work  of  the 
Gospel  ministry,  and  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  was  soon  afterwards  accordingly  appointed.  By 
the  Assembly  which  met  in  1822,  he  was  elected  Professor  of 


27 

"  Oriental  and   Biblical  Literature,"  and  was  solemnly  inaugu- 
rated in  the  following  September. 

Professor  Hodge,  soon  after  his  appointment  to  the  office  of 
Professor  of  Oriental  and  Biblical  Literature,  with  the  consent 
of  the  Board  of  Directors,  visited  Europe;  and,  after  spending 
some  time  in  Great  Britain  and  France,  devoted  himself  more 
particularly  to  biblical  studies  in  the  Universities  of  Berlin  and 
Halle.     He  was  absent  about  two  years. 

The  General  Assembly  which  met  at  Pittsburgh,  in  the  year 
1835,  appointed  two  new  Professors,  viz.:  the  Rev.  John  Breck- 
inridge, D.  D.,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  for  several  preceding 
years  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  General  Assembly's 
Board  of  Education,  to  be  "Professor  of  Pastoral  Theology;" 
and  Mr.  Joseph  Addison  Alexander,  A.  M.,  of  Princeton,  to 
be  "Associate  Professor  of  Oriental  and  Biblical  Literature." 
Dr.  Breckinridge  accepted  his  appointment,  and  was  inaugurated 
on  the  26th  of  September  following.  JMr.  Alexander  declined 
accepting  his  appointment  to  a  professorship,  for  the  present, 
and  preferred  occupying  the  place  of  Instructor  in  that  depart- 
ment, at  least  for  a  time.  It  is  expected  that  he  will,  ultimately 
consent,  formally  and  officially,  to  occupy,  as  he  does  now 
virtually,  the  place  to  which  he  was  chosen.  Mr.  Alexander 
enjoyed,  prior  to  his  entering  on  the  duties  of  Instructor  in  the 
institution,  very  gratifying  opportunities  of  extensive  travel  in 
Great  Britain,  and  on  the  continent  of  Europe;  and  of  study  in 
the  Universities  of  Halle  and  Berlin. 

The  following  rules  for  regulating  elections  of  Directors  and 
Professors  of  the  Seminary,  were  adopted  by  the  General  As- 
sembly in  1812. 

"  1.  When  the  Assembly  shall  proceed  to  the  election  of 
Directors  of  the  Theological  Seminary,  the  clerk  shall  call  on 
the  members  severally,  to  nominate  any  number  of  persons, 
not  exceeding  the  number  to  be  elected,  if  he  shall  think  it 
expedient  to  make  any  nomination. 

"2.  When  the  members  have  been  severally  called  upon  in 
the  order  of  the  roll,  to  make  a  nomination  agreeably  to  the 
above  rule,  the  names  of  the  persons  nominated  shall  be  imme- 
diately read  by  the  clerk  for  the  information  of  the  members, 
and  on  the  day  following  the  Assembly  shall  proceed  to  elect, 
by  ballot,  the  whole  number  of  Directors  to  be  chosen. 


28 

"  3.  Two  members  shall  be  appointed  to  take  an  account  of 
the  votes  given  for  the  candidates  nominated  for  Directors,  and 
to  report  to  the  Assembly  the  number  of  votes  for  each  of  the 
said  candidates,  who  have  a  plurality  of  votes,  who  shall  be  de- 
clared duly  elected: — but  if  the  whole  number  to  be  elected, 
should  not  be  elected,  and  two  or  more  of  the  candidates  should 
have  an  equal  number  of  votes,  then,  in  that  case,  the  house 
shall  proceed  to  elect  from  the  nomination  a  sufficient  number 
to  complete  the  Board;  and  shall  continue  to  vote  in  this  man- 
ner, until  the  full  number  specified  by  the  constitution  of  the 
Seminary  be  completed. 

"4.  When  the  votes  shall  have  been  counted,  and  the  requi- 
site number  of  Directors  shall  have  been  elected,  in  the  manner 
above  specified,  the  moderator  shall  announce  to  the  Assembly 
the  names  of  those  persons  who  shall  appear  to  have  the  highest 
number  of  votes,  and  are  thus  elected. 

"  5.  Whenever  a  Professor,  or  Professors,  are  to  be  elected, 
the  Assembly,  by  a  vote,  shall  determine  the  day  when  said 
election  shall  be  held;  which  day  shall  be  at  least  two  days 
after  the  above  determination  has  been  made.  Immediately 
after  the  vote  fixing  the  day  has  passed,  the  Assembly  shall 
have  a  season  for  special  prayer,  for  direction  in  the  choice. 
The  election,  in  all  cases,  shall  be  made  by  ballot.  The  ballots 
having  been  counted  by  two  members  previously  appointed, 
they  shall  report  a  statement  of  said  votes  to  the  moderator; 
and  in  case  there  shall  appear  to  be  an  equal  number  of  votes 
for  any  two  or  more  candidates,  the  Assembly  shall  proceed, 
either  immediately,  or  at  some  subsequent  period  of  their  ses- 
sions, to  a  new  election.  The  choice  being  made,  it  shall  be 
announced  to  the  Assembly  by  the  moderator." 

The  Theological  Seminary,  though  located  in  Princeton,  is 
altogether  independent  of  the  College  located  in  the  same  town, 
and  separate  from  it.  No  officer  of  the  one  is,  as  such,  an  offi- 
cer of  the  other.  There  is,  in  fact,  no  connexion  whatever  be- 
tween the  two  institutions,  excepting  what  arises  out  of  certain 
articles  of  agreement  between  the  Trustees  of  the  College  and 
the  General  Assembly,  formed  in  1812;  in  virtue  of  which  the 
theological  students,  for  a  short  time,  boarded  at  the  refectory, 
and  lodged  in  some  of  the  spare  rooms  of  the  College:  and  in 
consequence  of  which  also,  for  about  four  years,  the  lectures 


29 

and  recitations  of  the  Seminary  were  conducted  in  the  public 
rooms  of  the  College.  Every  thing  of  this  kind,  of  course, 
terminated,  when  the  public  edifice  of  the  Seminary  was  open- 
ed for  the  reception  of  its  students.  And  of  these  articles,  the 
only  one  of  which  the  Theological  Seminary  has  availed  itself, 
for  several  years  past,  or  is  likely  ever  again  to  avail  itself,  is 
that  which  gives  to  the  students  of  the  Seminary  the  use  of  the 
College  library,  which  consists  of  about  seven  thousand  volumes. 
This  article  is  in  the  following  words: — 

"  The  Trustees  grant  to  the  Professors  and  pupils  of  the 
Theological  Seminary,  the  free  use  of  the  College  library;  sub- 
ject to  such  rules  as  may  be  adopted  for  the  preservation  of  the 
books,  and  the  good  order  of  the  same." 

There  has  been  a  slow  but  steady  increase  of  the  number  of 
students  in  the  Seminary,  from  the  opening  of  the  first  session 
until  the  present  time.  It  began,  as  we  have  seen,  with  three. 
It  has  since  risen  gradually  to  one  hundred  and  thirty,  which 
may  be  regarded  as  the  present  average  number.  The  whole 
number  of  students  who  have  belonged  to  the  Institution,  from 
its  commencement  is  more  than  one  thousand.  Of  these  Jbrty 
have  engaged  in  the  work  of  foreign  missions.  A  number 
more  have  in  view,  and  are  preparing  for  the  same  field  of  la- 
bour. Considerably  above  one  hundred  and  fifty  have  been 
engaged  in  domestic  missions.  The  remainder  are,  or  have 
been,  pastors  of  churches;  and  a  large  portion  of  those  who 
employed  the  first  years  of  their  ministry  in  missionary  labour, 
have  since  been  settled  in  pastoral  charges. 

Library. 
The  Library  of  the  Seminary  was  commenced  soon  after 
the  commencement  of  the  Institution.  One  of  the  earliest  and 
most  liberal  contributors  to  its  formation,  was  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Jlshbel  Green,  the  first  President  of  the  Board  of  Directors, 
and  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  active  of  the  original  foun- 
ders of  the  Seminary.  As  a  memorial  of  his  zealous  and  emi- 
nent services,  it  was  called  the  Green  Library.  This  collection 
of  books  may  now  be  estimated  at  about  six  thousand  volumes, 
and  is  annually  increasing.  When  the  Synod  of  the  Associate 
Reformed  Church,  a  few  years  ago,  voted  to  become  united 
with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  it  also  voted  to  deposit  its  library 


30 

in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  for  the  use  of  that 
Institution  forever.  That  library  having  been  chiefly  collected 
in  Great  Britain,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  M.  Mason,  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  ornaments  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Church,  and,  for  many  years,  the  principal  Professor  in  her 
Theological  Seminary; — it  was  thought  proper  to  give  this 
collection  of  books  his  name.  Accordingly,  soon  after  it  was 
deposited  in  Princeton,  it  received,  and  has  since  been  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Mason  Library.  The  number  of  volumes 
in  this  library  may  be  estimated  at  x\%zx  four  thousand. 

These  two  libraries  have  ever  been  kept  perfectly  distinct. 
This  is  proper  in  itself;  and  is  the  rather  necessary,  because 
that  portion  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Church  which  refused 
to  acquiesce  in  the  union  with  the  Presbyterian  Church,  several 
years  since,  commenced  a  suit  at  law  for  the  recovery  of  the 
Mason  Library,  which  has  been  lately  decided  in  favour  of 
that  Synod;  so  that  it  is  expected  that  that  collection  of  books 
will  be,  in  a  few  months,  removed  from  Princeton. 

Funds. 

Thefu?ids  of  this  Institution  have  never  been  adequate  to 
its  support.  It  has  been  necessary  to  have  recourse,  from  time 
to  time,  to  annual  collections;  and  this  necessity  still  exists. 
Measures  have  been  taken  for  the  endowment  of  three  p?'o/es- 
sorships,  and  considerable  progress  made  in  the  enterprise. 
But  no  one  of  them  has  been  completely  filled.  There  is  a 
prospect  that,  before  long,  these  endowments  will  be  completed. 
The  number  of  scholarshijjs  endowed  by  different  liberal  indi- 
viduals, for  the  support  of  as  many  students  in  the  institution, 
is  twenty-six. 

The  following  is  a  catalogue  of  both  these  classes  of  funds. 

Professorsh  ips. 

In  1821,  it  was  announced  to  the  General  Assembly  that 
foundations  for  three  pjvofessorshijjs  had  been  commenced  by 
the  following  bodies. 

The  two  Synods  of  North  Carolina,  and  of  South  Carolina 
and  Georgia,  resolved  to  raise  ^15,000  each;  so  as  to  constitute 
a  fund  for  a  joint  professorship  of  ^30,000. 


31 

The  Synod  of  Philadelphia  resolved  to  endow  a  professor- 
ship with  a  capital  sum  of  ^25,000. 

The  Synod  of  New  York  and  Neiv  Jersey  resolved  to  en- 
dow a  professorship  with  a  capital  sum  of  ^25,000. 

No  one  of  these  professorships  has  been  fully  completed: 
though  much  the  greater  part  toward  the  completion  of  each 
has  been  actually  paid.  It  is  due,  however,  to  the  Synod  of 
New  York,  which  since  the  date  of  the  resolution  above  alluded 
to,  has  been  erected  into  a  separate  Synod,  to  state,  that  her 
portion  of  the  promised  endowment  has  been  fully  paid. 

Scholarships. 
The  scholarships  which  have  been  founded  are  the  following. 

1.  The  Le  Ror  scholarship,  founded  in  1816,  by  Mrs. 
Martha  Le  Roy,  of  the  city  of  New  York. 

2.  The  Banyar  scholarship,  founded  in  1816,  by  the  same. 

3.  The  Lenox  scholarship,  founded  in  1816,  by  Robert 
Lenox,  Esquire,  of  the  city  of  New  York. 

4.  The  Whitehead  scholarship,  founded  in  1817,  by  John 
Whitehead,  Esquire,  of  Burke  County,  Georgia. 

5.  The  Charleston  Female  scholarship,  founded  in  1817, 
by  the  Congregational  and  Presbyterian  Female  Association  of 
Charleston,  S.  C,  for  assisting  in  the  education  of  pious  youth 
for  the  Gospel  ministry. 

6.  The  Class  scholarship,  founded  in  1819,  by  the  First 
Class  in  the  Seminary  of  that  year. 

7.  The  Nephew  scholarship,  founded  in  1821,  by  James 
Nephew,  Esquire,  of  M'Intosh  County,  Georgia. 

8.  The  WooDHULL  scholarship,  founded  in  1823,  by  Mrs. 
Hannah  Woodhull,  of  Brookhaven,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 

9.  The  Scott  scholarship,  founded  in  1823,  by  Mr.  William 
Scott,  of  Elizabethtown,  N.  J. 

10.  The  Van  Brugh  Livingston  scholarship,  founded  in 
1823,  by  Mrs.  Susan  U.  Neimceiuiez,  of  Elizabethtown,  N.  J. 

11.  The  Augusta  Female  scholarship,  founded  in  1823,  by 
Ladies  of  Augusta,  Georgia. 

12.  The  Jane  Keith  scholarship,  founded  in  1823,  by  Mrs. 
Jane  Keith,  widow  of  the  late  Rev.  Isaac  S.  Keith,  D.  D.,  of 
Charleston,  South  Carolina. 

13.  The  Gosman  scholarship,  founded  in   1825,  by  Robert 


32 

Gosman,    Esquire,  of    Upper-Red-Hook,    Dutchess  County, 
New  York. 

14.  The  WicKES  scholarship,  founded  in  1825,  by  Eliphalet 
IVickes,  Esquire,  of  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 

15.  The  Othniel  Smith  scholarship,  founded  in  1825,  by 
Mr.  Othniel  Smith,  of  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 

16.  The  John  Keith  scholarship,  founded  in  1825,  by  Mr. 
John  Keith,  of  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania. 

17.  The  Hester  Smith  scholarship,  founded  in  1826,  by 
Miss  Hester  Smith,  of  Carmel,  Mississippi. 

18.  The  Anderson  scholarship,  founded  in  1827,  by  James 
Anderson,  Esquire,  of  the  city  of  New  York, 

19.  The  Kennedy  scholarship,  founded  in  1827,  by  Mr. 
Anthony  Kennedy,  of  Frankford,  Pennsylvania. 

20.  The  Colt  scholarship,  founded  in  1829,  by  Roswell  L. 
Colt,  Esquire,  of  Baltimore,  Maryland. 

21.  The  BouDiNOT  scholarship,  founded  in  1830,  by  the 
Hon.  Elias  Boiidinot,  LL.D.  of  Burlington,  New  Jersey. 

22.  The  Ed  scholarship,*  founded  in  1830,  by  Mr.  Robert 
Hall,  and  his  sister,  Mrs.  Marion  Hall,  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y. 

23.  The  KiRKPATRiCK  scholarship,  founded  in  1830,  by 
William  Kirkpatrick,  Esquire,  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania. 

24.  The  Stille  scholarship,  founded  in  1834,  by  John 
Stille,  Esquire,  of  Philadelphia. 

25.  The  King  scholarship,  founded  in  1835,  by  Mr.  Gilbert 
King,  of  Newburgh,  Orange  County,  New  York. 

26.  The  Benjamin  Smith  scholarship,  founded  some  years 
since,  by  the  will  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Smith,  of  Elizabethtown, 
New  Jersey,  deceased,  and  the  sum  bequeathed  expected  soon 
to  be  actually  paid  in. 

Rules  of  Decorum,  Order  and  Duty  for  the  Students. 

1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  student  to  attend  pimctually 
at  the  hour  appointed  for  each  recitation  or  lecture  to  begin. 

2.  Every  student  who  shall  be  absent,  without  leave,  from 
the  recitation  or  lecture  of  any  Professor,  shall  assign  to  such 
Professor,  the  reason  of  his  absence. 

*  For  an  explanation  of  this  name,  which  was  selected  by  the  founders,  sec 
Joshua  xxii.  34. 


33 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  student,  when,  in  the  course 
of  recitation,  he  shall  be  addressed  by  the  Professor,  to  rise, 
and  remain  standing,  while  he  is  answering  the  questions,  or 
performing  the  part  assigned  him;  unless  the  Professor  shall 
particularly  request  him  to  remain  seated. 

4.  If  any  student  desire  to  obtain  leave  of  absence,  if  he  con- 
template absence  from  only  one  recitation  or  lecture,  it  shall  be 
his  duty  to  apply  only  to  the  Professor  who  is  to  conduct  the 
recitation  or  lecture  in  question.  But  if  it  be  his  wish  to  be 
absent  from  two  or  more  recitations,  it  shall  then  be  his  duty 
to  apply  to  all  the  Professors  from  whose  exercises  he  wishes 
to  be  absent. 

5.  No  conversation  shall  be  allowed  during  any  recitation 
or  lecture,  nor  any  reading,  excepting  that  which  relates  im- 
mediately to  the  subject  of  the  lecture.  This  rule,  however, 
shall  not  be  considered  as  prohibiting  any  pertinent  questions 
which  any  student  may  be  disposed  to  ask  respecting  the  sub- 
ject at  any  time  under  consideration. 

Rules  for  the  regulation  of  the  Students  in  the    Public 
Edifice. 

1.  Morning  and  evening  prayers  shall  be  attended  by  the 
students  of  the  Seminary,  at  the  hours  appointed  by  the  Pro- 
fessors. 

2.  In  conducting  the  devotions  of  the  morning,  the  students 
of  the  First  Class  shall  preside  in  rotation,  except  when  one 
of  the  Professors  Is  present. 

3.  Evening  prayers  shall  be  regularly  attended  by  one  of  the 
Professors. 

4.  It  shall  be  left  to  the  Professors  to  accompany  prayer 
with  such  other  exercises  as  to  them  may  seem  proper. 

5.  From  morning  prayers  until  breakfast;  from  9  o'clock 
until  12;  and  from  2  o'clock,  P.M.  until  5,  shall  be  hours  of 
study. 

6.  In  the  hours  of  study,  the  students  shall  not  be  unneces- 
sarily absent  from  their  respective  rooms;  nor  shall  there  be 
any  passing  from  room  to  room,  unless  on  special  business. 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  students  to  preserve  their  rooms 
neat  and  clean,  and  carefully  to  d%oid  defacing  or  injuring  any 
part  of  the  edifice. 

5 


34 

8.  All  unnecessary  noise  within  the  edifice,  is  prohibited  at 
all  times,  but  especially  in  the  hours  of  study. 

9.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  student  to  spend  some  portion 
of  each  day  in  wholesome  exercise. 

10.  The  Professors  shall  have  a  general  power  to  preserve 
order  and  decorum  in  the  house;  to  inspect  the  rooms  of  the 
students;  to  appoint  monitors  or  censors;  to  direct  and  govern 
any  person  or  persons,  who  may  be  employed  as  servants  in 
the  house,  and  to  dismiss  the  same  whenever  they  shall  judge 
it  proper. 

11.  It  shall  also  belong  to  the  Professors  to  prescribe  rules 
for  the  preservation  of  order  and  decorum  in  the  attendance  of 
the  students  at  their  meals. 

12.  The  students  shall,  at  all  times,  treat  the  Steward  of  the 
Seminary  with  respect;  and  they  shall  not,  on  any  occasion, 
infringe  on  the  regulations  which,  with  the  approbation  of  the 
Professors,  he  may  make  for  the  government  of  the  servants, 
or  the  refectory,  or  kitchen. 

13.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Professors  of  the  Seminary  to 
enforce  these  rules;  and  to  exercise  such  discipline,  in  case  of 
an  infringement  of  any  of  them,  as  to  them  may  seem  proper; 
not  inconsistent  with  the  Constitution  of  the  Seminary. 

Rules  for  the  regulation  of  the  Studejits  in  the  Dining 
Room. 

1.  The  students  shall,  at  the  proper  signal,  assemble  in  the 
dining  room,  in  as  quiet  and  orderly  a  manner  as  possible. 

2.  A  member  of  the  First  Class,  in  alphabetical  order,  shall 
preside  at  each  meal.  The  presiding  student  shall  ask  a  bless- 
ing, and  shall  call  upon  any  other  whom  he  may  think  proper, 
to  return  thanks. 

3.  The  members  of  each  class,  as  far  as  circumstances  will 
admit,  shall  sit  together  at  table. 

Rules  for  the  preservation  and  secu7nty  of  the  Public  Edi- 
fice, Si'c. 
1.  Every  student,  at  the  commencement  of  every  session, 
shall  contribute  to  the  "  General  Expense  Fund,"  the  object  of 
which  is  to  clean,  light  and  warm  the  public  rooms,  and  to  keep 
in  repair  tho  public  edifice.     Those  who  occupy  rooms  in  the 


35 

public  edifice  shall  pay  ten  dollars  per  annum,  and  those  who 
room  elsewhere,  nine  dollars,  to  this  fund.  Of  this  sum  six 
dollars  shall  be  paid  by  all  the  students,  in  advance,  at  the 
commencement  of  the  winter  session,  and  the  balance,  also  in 
advance,  at  the  commencement  of  the  summer  session.  This 
payment  to  be  made  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
Seminary,  and  the  receipt  for  the  same  produced  to  the  Profes- 
sor who  officiates  as  clerk  of  the  faculty  of  the  Seminary. 

2.  If  any  student  shall,  accidentally,  or  from  any  cause  what- 
ever, injure  any  part  of  the  public  edifice,  or  its  furniture,  he 
shall  immediately  report  the  same  to  the  Steward  of  the  Semi- 
nary, who  shall  cause  the  injury  to  be  repaired,  at  the  expense 
of  him  who  caused  it. 

3.  If  any  student  shall  desire  to  alter  the  fire  place,  or  any 
other  fixture  in  his  room,  or  to  fix  a  grate,  or  introduce  a  stove, 
he  shall  inform  the  Steward  of  his  purpose,  and  obtain  his  per- 
mission to  execute  it;  and  no  stove  shall  be  set  in  any  room 
without  placing  it  on  some  metallic,  or  other  incombustible 
substance. 

Admission  into  the  Seminary. 

The  Plan  of  the  Institution  requires  that  ''every  student 
applying  for  admission,  shall  produce  satisfactory  testimonials 
that  he  possesses  good  natural  talents,  and  is  of  a  prudent  and 
discreet  deportment;  that  he  is  in  full  communion  with  some 
regular  Church;  that  he  has  passed  through  a  regular  course  of 
academical  study;  or,  wanting  this,  he  shall  submit  himself 
to  an  examination  in  regard  to  the  branches  of  literature  taught 
in  such  a  course." 

"  Every  student,  before  he  takes  his  standing  in  the  Semi- 
nary, shall  subscribe  the  following  declaration,  viz. — 'Deeply 
impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  importance  of  improving  in 
knowledge,  prudence,  and  piety,  in  my  preparation  for  the 
Gospel  ministry,  I  solemnly  promise,  in  a  reliance  on  divine 
grace,  that  I  will  faithfully  and  diligently  attend  on  all  the 
instructions  of  this  Seminary,  and  that  I  will  conscientiously 
and  vigilantly  observe  all  the  rules  and  regulations  specified  in 
the  plan  for  its  instruction  and  government,  so  far  as  the  same 
relate  to  the  students;  and  that  I  will  obey  all  the  lawful  requi- 
sitions, and  readily  yield  to  all  the  wholesome  admonitions  of 


36 

the  Professors  and  Directors  of  the  Seminary,  while  I  shall 
remain  a  member  of  it.'  " 

When  a  student  has  been  received  under  the  care  of  a  Pres- 
bytery, and  has  passed  his  examination  on  the  studies  usually 
pursued  in  Colleges  with  approbation,  a  certificate  from  the 
Presbytery  declaring  this  fact,  is  received  as  sufficient  to  an- 
swer every  requisition  in  regard  to  testimonials. 

When  a  student,  who  has  been  connected  with  any  other 
Theological  Seminary,  seeks  admission  into  this,  he  must  pro- 
duce testimonials  of  his  good  standing,  and  regular  dismission, 
before  he  can  be  received. 

The  proper  time  for  entering  the  Seminary,  is  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  winter  session,  which  begins  early  in  No- 
vember. It  is  important  that  students  should  be  present  at  the 
opening  of  the  session. 

Vacations. 

There  are  three  vacations  in  the  Seminary  every  year.  The 
spring  vacation  of  six  weeks;  the  autumnal  vacation  of  six 
weeks;  and  the  ivinter  vacation  of  two  iveeks; — to  commence 
at  such  times  as  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  deem  expedient. 

The  Board  have  accordingly  ordered  the  following  arrange- 
ment:— the  spring  vacation  to  commence  the  first  week  in 
May;  the  fall  vacation  the  Monday  evening  preceding  the  last 
Wednesday  in  September;  and  the  winter  vacation  on  the 
first  day  of  February. 

Course  of  Study  in  the  Seminary. 

First  year — Hebrew  Language;  Exegetical  Study  of  the 
Scriptures;  Sacred  Rhetoric;  Biblical  Criticism;  Biblical  An- 
tiquities; Introduction  to  the  Study  of  the  Scriptures;  Mental 
and  Moral  Science;  The  Evidences  of  Natural  and  Revealed 
Religion;  Sacred  Chronology;  Biblical  History. 

Second  year — Exegetical  Study  of  the  Hebrew  and  Greek 
Scriptures  continued;  Didactic  Theology;  Ecclesiastical  His- 
tory; Missionary  Instruction. 

Third  year — Exegetical  Study  of  the  Scriptures  continued; 
Didactic  Theology  continued;  Polemic  Theology;  Church  Go- 
vernment; Pastoral  Theology;  Composition  and  Delivery  of 
Sermons. 


37 

Members  of  the  first  class  are  required  to  exhibit  original 
compositions  once  in  two  weeks;  those  of  the  second  class  once 
in  three  weeks;  and  those  of  the  third  class  once  in  four  weeks. 

Necessary  Expenses  of  the  Seminary. 

There  is  no  charge  made  either  for  tuition  or  room-rent;  but 
each  student  pays  ^10  per  annum  to  the  "  General  Expense 
Fund,"  the  object  of  which  is  to  defray  the  contingent  expenses 
of  the  Institution.  Students  who  may  prefer  rooming  out  of 
Seminary  building,  can  be  accommodated  in  the  village  and 
vicinity. 

Indigent  students  are  aided  either  by  the  General  Assembly's 
"  Board  of  Education,"  the  "  American  Education  Society,"  or 
the  Funds  of  the  Seminary. 

The  expense  of  board  in  the  Commons  varies  from  ^1  25  to 
^1  75  per  week.  Board  may  be  obtained  in  private  families 
at  from  ^1  50  to  $2  50  per  week.  Expense  of  fuel  from  %Q  to 
jglO  per  year.     Washing  ^8. 

The  students,  in  addition  to  the  libraries  attached  to  the 
Seminary,  have  access  to  that  of  the  College;  and,  on  application 
to  the  several  Professors  of  that  institution,  can  have  the  privi- 
lege of  attending  lectures  on  Natural  Philosophy,  Chemistry 
and  Natural  History. 

Gentlemen  well  qualified  to  teach  the  German  and  French 
Languages  are  resident  here,  and  will  give  instruction  in  those 
branches  to  such  students  as  desire  it,  at  their  own  expense. 

Wants  of  the  Seminary. 
Although  this  Institution  has  been  in  operation  for  more  than 
twenty-five  years,  yet  a  variety  of  circumstances  have  served 
to  show  that  the  public  are  very  imperfectly  informed  of  its 
situation.  That  its  friends  may  be  the  better  able  to  judge  of 
its  wants,  and  of  the  various  ways  in  which  the  wealthy  and 
the  pious  may  contribute  to  its  benefit,  it  may  not  be  improper 
to  exhibit,  in  detail,  the  following  items,  with  a  distinct  expla- 
nation connected  with  each. 

I.   The  supjwrt  of  the  Professors. 
This  is  mentioned  first,  because  it  is  the  most  vital  and  indis- 
pensable part  of  the  whole.     A  Theological  Seminary  without 


38 

adequate  Instructors,  would,  of  course,  be  a  name  without  a 
reality.  It  would  be  possible  to  get  along — Inconveniently  and 
imperfectly,  indeed ;  but  still  to  get  along,  without  public  build- 
ings, without  a  public  library,  and  without  funds  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  students.  But  without  Instructors,  nothing,  it  is 
evident,  in  the  form  of  a  Seminary  of  learning,  can  be  carried 
on  at  all.  And  it  is  equally  evident,  that  capable  Instructors 
can  not  be  expected  to  quit  other  important  stations,  and  de- 
vote themselves,  for  life,  to  ihis  object,  without  some  good 
prospect  of  a  comfortable  and  permanent  support.  Yet  it  has 
been,  for  some  tim.e,  a  matter  of  wonder  and  regret  to  the 
friends  of  the  Seminary,  that  it  has  been,  for  so  many  years,  a 
candidate  for  the  favour  of  the  religious  public,  without  obtain- 
ing a  single  permanent  and  adequate  endowment,  for  the  sup- 
port of  even  one  Professor.  Almost  all  other  institutions  of  a 
similar  kind  have  been  built  up  by  the  large  donations  of  libe- 
ral benefactors.  Toward  some  of  them  there  has  been  a  libe- 
rality of  this  kind  displayed,  which  reflects  the  highest  honour 
on  a  number  of  distinguished  individuals.  The  names  o[  Ho II is 
and  Boyhton,  oi Hancock,  Hersey  and  ^rt'/;?.^,  designating  so 
many  different  professorships  in  the  University  oi  Cambridge, 
m  Massachusetts,  have  long  been  monuments  of  splendid  muni- 
ficence, and  will  be  transmitted  with  honour  to  the  end  of  time. 
And  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover,  the  professor- 
ships of  Christian  Theology,  of  Sacred  Rhetoric,  and  of  ^SV^- 
cred  Literature,  confer  on  the  names  oi  Bartlett  and  Jlhhott, 
oi  Brown  and  Norris,  an  illustrious  immortality.  But,  while 
so  much  has  been  done,  by  Christian  liberality,  for  other  insti- 
tutions, it  is  a  humiliating  fact,  that  no  individual  has  been 
hitherto  found,  in  all  our  large  and  wealthy  bounds,  who  has 
manifested  a  disposition  to  endow  a  single  professorship.  Can 
the  thought  be  admitted  that  there  is  less  enlightened  attach- 
ment to  the  Church  of  Christ,  or  less  disposition  to  exercise 
munificence  in  the  best  of  all  causes,  in  the  bosom  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  than  among  our  Congregational  brethren  of 
New  England  ?  May  we  not  rather  hope,  that  the  deficiency 
hitherto  acknowledged  and  lamented,  has  been  owing  to  a  want 
of  acquaintance  with  the  necessities  of  the  Institution,  rather 
than  to  the  want  of  a  disposition  to  patronize  it  ?  May  we  not 
cherish  the  hope,  that  when  the  object  is  fairly  presented,  and 


39 

the  urgent  necessities  of  the  Seminary  fully  made  known,  there 
will  also  be  found  among  Presbyterians  an  amount  of  Christian 
liberality  and  public  spirit,  commensurate  with  the  demand  for 
its  exercise  ? 

It  will  be  observed,  that  the  Plan  of  the  Seminary  provides, 
that  "  if  any  person  or  persons,  not  exceeding  three,  shall,  by 
will,  or  during  his  or  their  lives,  found  or  endow  a  professor- 
ship or  professorships,  said  professorship  or  professorships  shall 
forever  afterwards  be  called  and  known  by  the  name  or  names 
of  those  who  founded  or  endowed  them;  and  also  that  Presby- 
teries, Synods,  or  associations  of  any  kind,  may  enjoy  the  same 
privilege."  And  in  connection  with  this,  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  1815,  resolved,  "that  a  sum  not  less  than  twenty-Jive 
thousand  dollars  should  be  considered  as  requisite  to  endow  a 
professorship." 

Wealthy  individuals,  by  coming  forward  and  endowing  one 
or  more  professorships  themselves,  may  not  only  endear  their 
names  to  Christians  of  the  most  distant  posterity;  but  may  also 
render  it  unnecessary  for  the  Synods,  who  have  resolved  to 
endow  professorships,  to  collect  monies  for  the  accomplishment 
of  their  purpose  from  the  poor  as  well  as  the  rich,  within  their 
respective  bounds.  Or  those  whose  pecuniary  means  do  not 
allow  of  so  large  an  enterprise,  may,  by  throwing  in  a  few  hun- 
dreds, or  a  few  thousands,  into  the  Synodical  appropriations  for 
this  purpose,  happily  assist  in  expediting  the  attainment  of  their 
object. 

II.  The  support  of  Students. 
A  number  of  the  students  belonging  to  the  Seminary  are 
unable  to  provide  the  means  of  their  own  support;  and  unless 
these  means  were  furnished  from  other  sources,  would  be 
obliged  to  withdraw  from  the  Institution,  and  from  all  the  ad- 
vantages which  it  affords.  This  generally  has  been,  and  is 
now,  the  case  with  a  majority  of  the  whole  number.  But, 
after  all  that  has  been  done  in  this  way,  many  pious  and  pro- 
mising young  men,  in  different  parts  of  our  Church,  who  de- 
sired to  come  to  the  Seminary,  have  been  prevented  from  en- 
joying the  privilege,  because  no  encouragement  to  hope  for 
adequate  support  could  be  held  out  to  them;  and,  in  some 
cases,  it  is  feared,  the  Church  has  been  altogether  deprived  of 


40 

the  services  of  precious  youth,  who  might  have  adorned  her 
ministry,  but  who  saw  no  door  open  for  pursuing  the  studies 
necessary  to  qualify  them  for  the  sacred  office. 

It  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  then,  that  funds  be  furnished 
for  the  support  of  indigent  students;  for  the  entire  support  of 
those  who  need  it,  and  for  tlie  partial  aid  of  those  whose  cir- 
cumstances are  straitened.  Indeed,  the  Seminary  cannot  be 
considered  as  accomplishing  all  that  it  is  intended  to  accomplish, 
until  it  shall  be  able  freely  to  open  its  doors  to  all  the  youth  of 
piety  and  talent,  who  may  desire  the  holy  ministry;  affording 
gratuitous  instruction  to  all  without  exception,  and  gratuitous 
boarding  to  all  who  may  need  such  assistance. 

For  this  purpose,  it  will  be  observed,  that  the  Plan  of  the 
Seminary  provides  for  the  endowment  of  scholarships,  that  is, 
devoting  a  principal  sum,  the  interest  of  which  shall  be  sacredly 
applied,  forever,  to  the  support  of  an  indigent  student.  These 
scholarships,  it  is  further  provided,  shall  forever  bear  the  name 
of  their  founders  respectively.  A  number  of  scholarships  have 
been  already  founded,  by  distinguished  friends  of  the  Seminary, 
as  has  been  seen  in  the  preceding  history;  and  it  is  earnestly 
hoped  that  their  number  will  be  increased.  Can  a  Christian  of 
wealth  and  public  spirit  devote  a  portion  of  his  property  to  a 
more  interesting  purpose  ?  While  so  much  pains  and  expense 
are  bestowed  on  sending  the  Bible,  in  all  languages,  to  every 
part  of  the  world;  can  it  be  forgotten  that  the  living  teacher 
is  an  appointment  of  God,  for  converting  the  nations,  no  less 
important  than  the  written  word  ?  And  can  any  one,  who  has 
eyes  to  see,  and  ears  to  hear,  fail  of  knowing,  that  while  Bibles 
are  multiplying  rapidly,  there  is  not  a  corresponding  multipli- 
cation of  ministers  of  the  cross  7  Is  it  not  an  object,  then, 
worthy  of  the  best  efforts  of  every  believer  in  Christ,  to  do  all 
in  his  power  to  add  to  their  number  ?  And  how  can  he  do  it 
better  than  by  founding  scholarships  in  Theological  Seminaries  ? 
To  establish  a  fund  for  the  education  of  one  minister  of  the 
Gospel  after  another,  in  an  unbroken  succession,  to  the  end  of 
time,  is  surely  one  of  the  most  desirable  achievements  of  Chris- 
tian charity  which  a  pious  mind  can  easily  contemplate.  Per- 
haps there  is  no  other  object  to  which  such  a  sum  can  be  appro- 
priated, that  will  be  likely  so  extensively  to  promote  the  glory 


41 

of  God,  the  good  of  souls,  and  the  eternal  reward  of  the  pious 
donor. 

The  General  Assembly  have  determined,  that  a  sum  not  less 
than  two  thousand  and  Jive  hundred  dollars  shall  be  consi* 
dered  as  requisite  to  endow  a  Scholarship.  It  is  evident,  how- 
ever, that  the  annual  interest  of  ^2,500,  especially  at  the  present 
low  rate  of  interest,  is  not  sufficient  for  the  entire  support  of  any 
young  man, in  a  Theological  Seminary, even  in  themost  economi- 
cal manner.  It  is  desirable,  therefore,  that  a  few  scholarships  of 
higher  amount,  say  of  ^3,000  and  ^3,500,  be  established.  For 
while  some  students  are  able  to  furnish  a  part  of  what  is  ne- 
cessary for  their  own  support,  others  are  totally  destitute,  and, 
of  course,  must  be  furnished  with  z  full  support,  if  any. 

For  a  number  of  years  after  the  establishment  of  the  Semi- 
nary, a  large  part  of  the  support  furnished  to  indigent  students 
was  derived  from  Female  Cent  Societies,  and  other  Female 
Associations,  in  different  parts  of  our  Church.  For  seven  or 
eight  years  past,  these  societies  have,  in  a  great  measure,  ceased 
to  furnish  their  wonted  supply.  Either  from  a  decline  of  their 
zeal,  or  from  an  impression  that  their  efforts  were  no  longer 
needed,  but  few  of  them  are  any  longer  in  the  habit  of  trans- 
mitting the  fruits  of  their  annual  liberality.  Only  two  or  three 
of  all  the  former  number  continue  to  transmit  their  contribu- 
tions. This  decline  is  deeply  to  be  lamented.  These  contri- 
butions are  greatly  needed.  It  would  gladden  many  a  student's 
heart,  and  prevent  many  a  painful  privation,  if  they  could  be 
resumed  and  continued.  And  if  one  or  two  ladies,  in  each 
church,  who  take  an  interest  in  the  welfare  of  Zion,  and  who 
desire  to  see  the  number  of  pious  and  well  furnished  ministers 
greatly  increased,  would  undertake  to  manage  the  affairs  of 
these  associations,  to  recollect  the  return  of  their  anniversaries, 
and  to  collect  their  dues,  they  might,  with  very  little  effort,  be 
kept  in  regular  and  most  useful  operation. 

III.  The  Purchase  of  an  adequate  Library. 
A  good  library  is  a  matter  of  vital  importance  in  a  Theolo- 
gical Seminary.  Without  it,  both  Professors  and  students  are 
subjected  to  privations  and  embarassments  of  the  most  serious 
kind,  at  every  step  of  their  course.  There  ought  to  be  in  every 
such  Institution,  a  library  of  sufficient  extent  to  furnish  every 
r. 


42 

standard  work  which  may  be  quoted  or  recommended  on  every 
subject  which  may  become  matter  of  discussion  in  the  Institution. 
Compared  with  what  it  ought  to  be,  the  library  at  present  pos- 
sessed by  the  Seminary,  is  very  small  and  imperfect.  Many 
of  the  most  important  works  recommended  to  the  pupils  are 
not  to  be  found  in  it,  and  are,  of  course,  beyond  their  reach. 
Instead  oi  one  hundred  thousand  volutnes,  which  the  Institu- 
tion ought  to  possess,  it  has  less  than  a  tivelfth  part  of  that 
number.  And  now  that  the  library  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Synod  is  no  longer  ours,  the  scantiness  of  our  supply  in  this 
respect  must  strike  unfavourably  every  beholder,  and  give  pain 
to  every  friend  of  the  Seminary. 

There  certainly  ought  to  be  placed,  in  some  such  central 
situation  as  that  of  Princeton,  a  great  library,  to  which  students 
and  writers  on  all  subjects  might  resort;  and  where  might  be 
found  every  important  work  needed,  either  for  perusal  or  re- 
ference, in  all  departments  of  literature  and  science.  And  of 
some  works  recommended  to  the  perusal  of  whole  classes  of 
students,  instead  of  07ie,  there  ought  to  be,  on  the  shelves  of 
such  an  institution,  several  dozens  of  copies.  This  object  ought 
to  engage  the  immediate  attention,  and  the  efficient  liberality  of 
every  friend  of  the  Seminary,  and,  indeed,  of  every  friend  of 
literature.  A  few  thousand  dollars  devoted  to  the  enlargement 
of  the  library,  would  be  most  usefully  bestowed.  Donations 
in  books,  or  in  money  to  be  appropriated  to  the  purchase  of 
books,  would  be  gratefully  acknowledged  by  the  Directors  and 
Officers  of  the  Seminary. 

The  apartment  in  the  public  edifice,  destined  for  the  library, 
is  entirely  too  small  for  the  reception  of  such  a  collection  as 
every  Theological  Seminary  ought  to  possess.  Nor  is  this  all: 
an  extensive  and  valuable  library  ought  never  to  be  deposited 
in  any  other  than  a  fire-proof  huWtXiu^.  It  is  exceedingly  de- 
sirable, therefore,  that  some  individual  or  individuals,  friendly 
to  the  Seminary,  should  erect  a  suitable  building,  for  the  recep- 
tion of  a  large  library,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  main  edifice,  and 
constructed,  as  nearly  as  possible,  upon  the  principle  of  being 
proof  against  fire,  while  it  should  admit  of  being  comfortably 
warmed.  The  destruction  of  the  greater  part  of  the  library  of 
Princeton  College,  by  the  memorable  fire  which  consumed  the 
public  edifice  of  tliat  institution  in  1S02,  furnished  a  very  in- 
structive admonition  on  this  subject. 


43 


The  Officers  of  the  Seminary  in  January^  1838. 


Directors. 


MINISTERS. 


Gardiner  Spring,  D.D, 
William  A.  M'Dowell,  D.D. 
William  Neill,  D.D. 
William  Latta. 
William  D.  Snodgrass,  D.D. 
Joseph  M'Elroy,  D.D. 
George  Musgrave. 


nutING  ELDERS. 


John  T.  Woodhull,  M.D. 
Hugh  Auchincloss. 
Alexander  W.  Mitchell,  M.D. 


Benjamin  H.  Rice,  D.D. 

John  M'Dowell,  D.D. 

William  B.  Sprague,  D.D. 

Cornelius  C.  Cuyler,  D.D. 

George  Potts. 

Elias  W.  Crane. 

John  N.  Campbell,  D.D. 


Benjamin  Strong. 
Samuel  Bayard. 
Ambrose  White. 


Ashbel  Green,  D.D. 
William  VV.  Phillips,  D.D. 
John  Johnston. 
Asa  Hillyer,  D.D. 
Robert  M'Cartee,  D.D. 
Henry  A.  Boardman. 
Nicholas  Murray. 


Alexander  Henry. 
Moses  Allen. 
James  Lenox. 


44 


Trustees. 

Samuel  Bayard,  Esq.  President. 

Hon.  Samuel  L.  Southard,  Vice-President. 

Rev.  John  M'Dowell,  D.D.  Secretary. 

Alexander  Henry,  Esq.  John  J.  Bryant,  Esq. 

Benjamin  Strong,  Esq.  Rev.  Ashbel  Green,  D.D. 

John  T.  Woodhull,  M.D.  Rev.  William  W.  Phillips,  D.D. 

Solomon  Allen,  Esq.  Rev.  David  Comfort. 

Lewis  W.  R.  Philips,  Esq.  Rev.  Nicholas  Murray. 

Jabez  G.  Goble,  M.D.  Rev.  Isaac  V.  Brown. 

James  Lenox,  Esq.  Rev.  James  Carnahan,  D.D. 

Job  Squier,  Esq.  Rev.  Joseph  M'Elroy,  D.D. 

Henry  W.  Green,  Esq.  Rev.  Eli  F.  Cooley. 

James  S.  Green,  Esq.  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
Josiah  Gary,  Esq.  Steward. 


Professors. 

Rev.  Archibald  Alexander,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Didactic  and 
Polemic  Theology. 

Rev.  Samuel  Miller,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Ecclesiastical  History 
and  Church  Government. 

Rev.  Charles  Hodge,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Oriental  and  Bibli- 
cal Literature. 

Rev.  John  Breckinridge,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Pastoral  Theo- 
logy and  Missionary  Instruction. 

3.  Addison  Alexander,  A.M.,  Associate  Professor  (elect J  of 
Oriental  and  Biblical  Literature. 


45 


Form  of  a  Devise  or  Bequest  for  the  Seminary. 

"  To  the  Trustees  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  1  give  and  be- 
queath the  sum  of  (here  designate  the  property,  personal  or 
real),  to  be  added  to  the  Permanent  Fund  of  the  Theologi- 
cal Seminary,  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  under  the  care  of 
the  said  Assembly;  Or  to  the  Contingent  Fund  of  the  said 
Seminary;  Or  toward  the  establishment  of  a  Professorship, 
or  Scholarship,  in  said  Seminary;  Or  toward  the  increase  of  its 
Library,  Or  the  support  of  its  indigent  students,  &c."  according 
to  the  wish  of  the  donor; — and  the  corporation  are  bound  by 
charter  to  apply  the  donation  accordingly. 

The  above  form  may  be  used  by  a  Testator  residing  in  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  where  the  Trustees  of  the  General  As- 
sembly have  been  incorporated;  but,  in  the  other  States  of  the 
Union,  the  following  form  is  recommended,  viz. 

In  Cases  of  Real  Estate. 

"  I  give  and  devise  unto  A.  B.  and  C.  D.  the  survivors  and 
survivor  of  them,  and  the  heirs  of  such  survivor  (describe  the 
real  estate),  for  the  use  of,  and  in  trust  for,  the  Trustees  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  be  applied  to 
the  use  of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  said  Church,  now 
located  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey,"  &c.  &c. 

Li  Cases  of  Personal  Estate. 
"  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  (as  above,  excepting  instead  of  the 
heirs  of  such  survivor  say,)  executors,  administrators,  and  as- 
signs, of  such  survivor." 


